From National Award-Winning Films To Bollywood: Sulakhyana Baruah Opens A New Chapter With ‘Ohh My Dog’

When Assamese films travel to national and international festivals, familiar names often appear in the credits. One of them is Sulakhyana Baruah.

Over the years, she has built a career as both an actor and a producer, with several National Award-winning films to her name. Now, she is taking that journey to a wider audience with her first Hindi feature film.

Sulakhyana will make her Bollywood debut in filmmaker Amit Rai’s Ohh My Dog, which is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on August 7, 2026.

According to an India Today news report, the film’s release was shifted from its earlier date to avoid a crowded box office and give the family drama a better run in theatres.

Directed by Amit Rai, whose previous film OMG 2 was widely appreciated, Ohh My Dog tells the story of the bond between a young child and a stray dog.

Apart from Sulakhyana Baruah, the film stars Pankaj Tripathi, Pawan Malhotra, Geeta Aggrawal Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, and Maahi Rai in pivotal roles.

At its heart, the story speaks about compassion, friendship and the relationship between people and animals.

For Sulakhyana, the film marks another step in a career that has grown steadily over the years.

She studied Mass Media at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, before going on to study filmmaking at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) in Prague.

She began acting with Adomya and later appeared in films such as Maj Rati Keteki, Anunaad and Rador Pakhi.

These films earned recognition at film festivals across India and abroad.

Maj Rati Keteki won the National Award for Best Assamese Feature Film, while Anunaad received the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues.

Her contribution has not been limited to acting.

As a producer, Sulakhyana has backed films that focus on regional stories and indigenous cultures.

Her productions Mishing and Sikaisil both won National Awards. Through these films, she has worked to preserve indigenous languages and traditions while bringing local stories to a wider audience.

Speaking about her Bollywood debut, Sulakhyana said the experience was special because of the people she worked with.

“Making my Bollywood debut with Ohh My Dog couldn’t have been more special. Amit Rai creates an environment where every actor feels valued, and his clarity of vision makes the entire creative process immensely rewarding,” she said.

“It was a privilege to work alongside exceptional performers like Pankaj Tripathi, Pawan Malhotra, and Geeta Aggrawal Sharma, whose dedication and generosity as artistes left a lasting impression on me. I carry with me everything I have learnt from Assamese cinema, and I hope this film becomes the beginning of many meaningful stories that I can tell across India while continuing to represent the rich storytelling traditions of the Northeast,” she added.

Away from film sets, Sulakhyana has also become a familiar face at major international film festivals, including Cannes.

She has served on preview committees of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). She has also served on jury panels at film festivals, adding to her growing role in Indian cinema beyond acting and production.

For Assam and the Northeast, Sulakhyana’s Bollywood debut is another reminder that the region’s artists are finding space in mainstream Indian cinema without leaving behind their roots.

Even as she begins a new journey with Ohh My Dog, the values that shaped her career remain unchanged—telling honest stories, staying connected to her culture and supporting meaningful cinema.

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