Last week brought the sad news of director Pradeep Sarkar’s demise. His passing has put a brake on the films he was making — from Noti Binodini with Kangana Ranaut, to a romantic musical thriller with Emraan Hashmi (Untold stories, unfulfilled plans, March 27). However, the first project that the filmmaker was to take on floors this year was Modern Parents. In January, mid-day had reported that Sarkar was making a film that explored the generation gap between parents and their Gen-Z children (The kids are alright, January 26).

“A second-generation actor, who has done several action films, was in the process of being signed on as the lead. Unfortunately, before things could be finalized, Pradeep ji left us,” says a source.

With a studio already on board to back the slice-of-life movie, producers Om Prakash Bhatt and Jass Khera were planning to kick off the shoot in early July. “Since the story is set in Mumbai, we were lining up a 36-day start-to-finish schedule in the city. Dada was so excited about the film that he had begun pre-production work on his own,” adds Bhatt.

The fate of Modern Parents will be determined in the coming weeks. Khera states, “There are legalities involved, with the studio backing the film. So we will get together to figure out the way forward. Dada will surely be missed.”

In his last feature film Helicopter Eela (2018), director Pradeep Sarkar explored the concept of helicopter parenting. His fascination with the divide between today’s parents and their kids continues with his next, titled Modern Parents.

Sarkar says, “Many associate modern parenting with the generation gap parents have with their children. The film is about how to bridge that gap.”

The director feels that technology has further widened the divide. “Before mobiles and apps came in, we used to talk to [each other]. Today, our kids say they need their space.” The director is currently in talks with actors to play the lead couple, who try hard to connect with their Gen-Z kids.

While Helicopter Eela saw Kajol as an overprotective mother, Sarkar says his next takes a different approach towards parenting. “There, the mother was domineering. Here, the parents are trying to be friends with the children. However, if you get too involved in the children’s lives, it either leads to fights, or a new way of living.”

Om Prakash Bhatt, who is producing Modern Parents with Jass Khera, adds, “We’ll finalize the cast in the coming weeks, and will begin filming soon.”