Last July, Anubhav Sinha announced that he is bringing together prolific filmmakers Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta, Ketan Mehta and Subhash Kapoor for an anthology film set against the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic. Among the first to get locked is Mishra’s short film, which will be headlined by Taapsee Pannu. For the actor, the project is a perfect blend of the old and the new — where she has teamed up with Sinha on Mulk (2018) and Thappad (2020), the anthology marks her first collaboration with Mishra.

Pannu, known to straddle diverse genres, is happy to tick one more off her list. “It’s a socio-political drama that spans across two generations. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Sudhir sir who is solid with his craft,” she says. Working under Sinha’s banner is a homecoming of sorts for her. “Anubhav sir knows how to channel the best in me. Being surrounded by such masterful filmmakers is a blessed experience.”

The pandemic has been a grim reminder of the uncertainty of life. When Mishra sat down to develop a human drama set against one of the biggest challenges faced by mankind, he found himself concentrating on the idea of being young, and how one generation passes the baton to the next. “Personally, this is one of those stories that leave an indelible mark. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to bring it to life with. Taapsee is one of the finest artistes of today’s times. Her spirit will elevate the film,” says the director. This will be his second venture with Sinha after the recently announced Afwaah.

For Sinha, whose banner Benaras Media Works is producing the anthology with T-Series, the project is an attempt to understand the myriad emotions we went through in the past two years, seen through the lenses of five filmmakers. “It’s a layered narrative about human relationships. Taapsee is perceptive; she infuses a lived-in experience into her roles, making the story even more relatable,” he says, while Bhushan Kumar describes Mishra’s directorial venture as “one of the most stirring stories I have read in recent times.”