Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar has mentioned that his upcoming movie with Abhishek Bachchan, which is currently untitled, delves into everyday life with a lighthearted approach, much like his previous works.
Sircar, known for his collaborations with megastar Amitabh Bachchan on movies such as "Piku" and "Gulabo Sitabo," as well as producing "Pink," has joined forces with Amitabh's son, Abhishek Bachchan, for the first time.
Scheduled for a theatrical release on November 15, the film will once again explore the dynamics of a father-daughter relationship, reminiscent of the 2015 film "Piku."
This collaboration has been long-awaited and Sircar believes it showcases some of Abhishek Bachchan's best work to date.
"It's a very simple observation of life with a little smile. When I watch the film, its post-production, it brings a smile (to my face). And, I can guarantee that it is one of the finest of Abhishek Bachchan films. We always wanted to work together but we were not getting the right kind of script," the filmmaker told PTI in an interview.
Asked about the long gap this time between his stories considering "Gulabo Sitabo" (2020) and "Sardar Udham" (2021) released on streamers during the pandemic, Sircar said he did not have a script.
"When I have a script and when I know that this script is ready to move on to the floor, that's when I do it. Because of the Covid and 'Gulabo Sitabo' and 'Sardar Udham Singh' releasing back-to-back, I didn't have the time to focus on a script," he said.
The director said he normally takes a year and sometimes more to finalise a story. His last big-screen release was 2018's "October," which starred Varun Dhawan and Banita Sandhu.
"I make very few films and my subjects are very offbeat but it's usually stories of everyday life that I see. Some love them and some don't but I am okay with it. I'm thankful to those who appreciate them," he said.
The slice-of-life aspect of his movies notwithstanding, Sircar has successfully achieved a harmony between commercial appeal and storytelling in his works. He deems this balance crucial for directors aiming for longevity in the industry.
"I try because somewhere these films are expensive and they need recovery. As a director, I have to take that responsibility. That recovery lies on me. I can't go absolutely offbeat, where I know that this film is not going to recover... I have to be responsible for it." Sircar, who studied in Delhi and formed his own theatre group called Act One before shifting to Mumbai to pursue filmmaking, believes his non-film influences may be responsible for the kind of stories he tells which don't necessarily follow the typical film formula.
"My understanding of cinema, theatre and art was quite fragmented. I didn't know that I would become a director, or that I'd even reach Mumbai. Sitting in Delhi, I used to think about going to Mumbai - it was a dream. But when I landed in Mumbai, it was, in itself, like an achievement. What I'd do or not was far too much," he said, recalling his early years.
The filmmaker, who made his debut in 2005 with the romantic war film Yahaan, said that when he was in Delhi, he worked in theatre across departments like music, art, and direction.
"I was also into a lot of documentaries in Delhi so that was also my upbringing because there were a lot of documentaries at that time in the '90s and 2000s. And then, I got inspired by Satyajit Ray and he is the Bible on everything (related to cinema). I think that influence was there. (Then there was) the golden cinema of India... 1950s to 1980s, films by Tapan Sinha, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Sai Paranjpye," he said.
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