Douglas Henshall Heads to India for “Angh” — A 1960s Drama Exploring the Untold History of Nagaland

After years of solving murders on the windswept shores of Scotland, Douglas Henshall is heading somewhere very different — the misty hills and tribal heartlands of northeast India.

The Shetland star, best known for his critically acclaimed role as Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez in the hit BBC crime drama, has officially joined the cast of Angh, a 1960s-set period film that promises to uncover an “untold chapter” in Indian history.

Directed by Theja Rio in her feature debut, Angh is set in the remote state of Nagaland, a region rich in cultural heritage yet rarely portrayed on screen. The project marks a striking shift for Henshall — from bleak Northern noir to tropical political drama — and one that early buzz suggests could become one of his most powerful roles yet.

A Story from the Edges of History

According to the film’s producers, Angh (a word meaning “chief” in the local Konyak language) will tell the story of a proud tribal leader struggling to protect his people’s traditions as his world begins to change forever.

Set against the backdrop of 1960s Nagaland, the film follows the arrival of an American missionary whose influence threatens to upend the community’s long-held beliefs and way of life. The tension between modern faith and ancient custom forms the emotional and political core of the story — one that resonates far beyond its setting.

Director Theja Rio, who hails from Nagaland herself, described the project as deeply personal.

“Nagaland’s history, culture, and untold narratives hold immense cinematic potential,” Rio said. “Angh is our way of sharing them with the world. Shooting on 16mm, collaborating with local actors, and having Douglas Henshall as part of this journey makes this project truly special. We believe it will be a meaningful addition to the cinematic landscape.”

From Scotland to the Highlands of Nagaland

For Douglas Henshall, Angh represents a bold leap — geographically and artistically. After leaving Shetland following its seventh season in 2022, fans have eagerly awaited his next move. Known for his introspective performances and understated intensity, Henshall has consistently chosen roles that blend intelligence with emotional depth, from Primeval to Outlander to The Secret of Crickley Hall.

While details about his character in Angh remain under wraps, insiders describe his role as “pivotal” to the story’s emotional arc. Given the film’s historical and cross-cultural themes, many expect Henshall to play a figure bridging the gap between the indigenous and the colonial — perhaps a missionary, scholar, or outsider whose presence sets the story in motion.

Either way, his inclusion adds international visibility to a project already celebrated for its authenticity.

A Debut Rooted in Identity

Angh marks the directorial debut of Theja Rio, an emerging filmmaker from Nagaland’s Mon district. Her vision is to bring regional stories from India’s northeast — long neglected in mainstream cinema — into global focus.

To ensure authenticity, the film will feature a predominantly local cast and will be shot entirely on 16mm film, giving it a textured, timeless aesthetic reminiscent of 1960s documentaries. Shooting on film stock, rather than digital, is a deliberate artistic choice — one that underscores the story’s themes of memory, preservation, and fading tradition.

Producer Nancy Nisa Beso of Winter Hymns Films echoed that sentiment, calling Angh “deeply personal.”

“We are telling a story rooted in Nagaland’s history, but with themes that are universal,” Beso said. “This isn’t just about one tribe or region. It’s about identity, change, and what happens when worlds collide.”

The film’s production team is also committed to working closely with local communities, hiring regional talent both in front of and behind the camera, and capturing the landscape in all its authenticity.

Global Storytelling Meets Local Soul

In many ways, Angh is the kind of project that reflects the evolving direction of international cinema — intimate yet ambitious, rooted in local history but told with global relevance. By weaving together indigenous storytelling, colonial history, and spiritual conflict, it aims to give voice to stories often overlooked in traditional narratives of postcolonial India.

For Henshall, whose acting career has long embraced complex moral themes, the film’s exploration of belief, loss, and change feels like a natural fit. Critics have often praised his ability to convey internal struggle — a quality that could prove essential for a film built on emotional and cultural dualities.

The collaboration between Rio and Henshall also highlights a growing trend in film: the cross-pollination of Western talent with regional storytelling from Asia, Africa, and South America. The result, in many cases, has been a richer, more nuanced kind of cinema — and Angh appears poised to continue that trajectory.

An Untold Chapter Comes to Light

Production on Angh is expected to begin later this year, with filming planned across several remote locations in Nagaland’s hill districts. Early stills and concept art hint at a visually stunning world — lush forests, mist-covered mountains, and traditional longhouses that evoke a forgotten era.

If successful, Angh could open the door for more stories from India’s northeast — a region whose history of resistance, spirituality, and survival remains largely unexplored in global cinema.

And for Douglas Henshall, it’s the perfect next act — a chance to trade the gray skies of Shetland for the emerald hills of Nagaland, and to be part of a story that promises not just cinematic beauty, but historical revelation.

As Theja Rio put it best:

“This isn’t just about the past. It’s about who we are — and who we still might become.”