The trailer of Shoojit Sircar's Piku, a quirky family comedy, has been garnering attention online. The director tells us about the film's characters, their eccentricities and the actors who brought them to life:

Piku:
It was Deepika Padukone from the get-go. She is an exceptionally incredible actor and after seeing her work in some of her recent films, I was convinced that she would bring Piku alive on the big screen. As a character, Piku is headstrong, yet grounded. She lives life on her own terms and is still rooted to what matters most - her family, especially her father. The film will take audiences through her roller coaster life and the everyday problems she faces with her Baba.

Baba:
Mr Amitabh Bachchan is a legend and to have him play an eccentric role, such as Bhashkor Banerjee, was awe-inspiring. He is like a child on the set and is open to experimenting with something that holds merit. His character, Bhashkor, is a retired man and spends most of his time obsessing about age-related issues. He is stubborn, dramatic and comes with his own set of problems. He has very specific, but unconventional likes, dislikes and ideologies, which end up conflicting with Piku.

Rana:
For Rana, we needed an actor who was restrained and yet, brought comedy into a frame. Irrfan Khan is not only one of the finest actors we have in India, but he has also made his mark internationally. We approached him even before I finished writing the script! His character is an outsider who has nothing to do with the Banerjee family. But somehow, he gets entangled with them and all their drama. He is the owner of a taxi service that Piku frequents and his banter with Mr Bachchan is a scene-stealer.

Piku, produced by MSM Motion Pictures, Saraswati Entertainment Creations Limited and Rising Sun Films, releases May 8.