Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar was in town recently to promote his true-story based inspirational drama I Want To Talk. A signature Sircar film which scores with its understated theme and treatment in an age of thrillers and high-voltage action, I Want To Talk makes Abhishek Bachchan shine as Arjun Sen. You frown at the character first but eventually end up taking important lessons of life, especially one on ‘living in the moment’. A tete-a-tete with the man behind films as diverse as Vicky Donor and Sardar Udham, where he talks about casting Abhishek for the role, why this film should be viewed independently and the films that asserts his vision of filmmaking.

In I Want To Talk we see Abhishek Bachchan in a very different role — a middle aged man with his eccentricities. What made him your choice for the role of Arjun Sen?

It’s difficult to say why I choose Abhishek Bachchan for the role but let me tell you, it’s absolutely not for the reason that I worked with his father (Amitabh Bachchan). Abhishek and I have been friends for quite some time and I have seen sparks of his talent on many occasions, whenever we have met. I remember meeting him during the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and we spent three-for hours together. My producer Ronnie Lahiri was also there. I saw a beautiful vulnerable side of him and he expressed a deep interest in working with me. I saw a beautiful side to him which I always loved about Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan); I saw Jaya Bhaduri’s eyes, her kind of a stillness in him… talking a lot through the eyes, that vulnerability and the warmth. So I asked him: ‘Will you do this kind of a story which a lot of people may not relate to?’ I wanted to do this film because, for me, it’s an inspirational film and I want to inspire people about mental health and also what Irrfan had just gone through. If he would have been alive, he would have done this role. Abhishek agreed instantly. This kind of a partnership is always beautiful that somebody is jumping on your boat and ready to give it a full try and see how beautifully he has done. He’s incredible as a performer in I Want To Talk.

It’s great that you brought out this side of him as an actor...

That has happened in all my films. Somebody asked me, all actors in your film have done so wonderfully, whether it’s Varun Dhawan or Deepika (Padukone) or others who are essentially mainstream actors. I said that’s good if they really flourish as an actor and their insight really comes out. It just makes me more happy.

Had you envisioned Abhishek as Arjun right from the start?

Yes, when I was writing, he was always on my mind. I know him quite well because we play football together. When I am shooting with Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan, he will just barge in and say: ‘Dada, let’s have lunch together’. Even if he is shooting on the other floor, he will just come and spend time with me.

The film oscillates between life, death and hope and also maintains a very matter-of-fact attitude. Can you throw some light on the themes?

This oscillating between life and death... isn’t it a fact? The surgeon, played by Jayant Kripalani, in a day I don’t know how many surgeries he is doing. So, his empathy of looking at it is much more clinical. He is here trying to save that person but it’s Arjun’s character that he is really fascinated with and that’s where the clashes are. Denial is the best medicine, but at the end of the day, he didn’t want to go into denial, he wanted to face it because he didn’t know if he would cross 100 days. My experience in hospitals and dealing with this kind of situation was very normal.

Abhishek’s character in the film is inspired by your friend in real life. How much did you improvise?

The real Arjun Sen is an interesting character. He just loves to deliver one-liners in the middle of nowhere. A lot of people thought that I am trying to bring in humour, but I am not. He has a lot of greys, he is a brutal marketing person. Yes, we have improvised but more or less the spine is the same. I told Arjun that I cannot do this film without showing all your grey sides. I think most of the film is grey, little is white and that he is improving and he is trying. His daughter (played by Ahilyaa Bamroo)is the referee. He is the one who is less expressive, like most men. That’s why in the end she says: ‘I still have that one heart-to-heart conversation’. I think life is as simple. I call this as a document, so I documented his life.

The emotional aspect was kept very low. There’s no family drama or emotional stress about somebody is going to die soon.

You must understand that a lot of people missed out on one factor. They are thinking it’s an Indian set up, everybody will come and cry and show sympathy. America is not like that; an American lifestyle is very lonely. There, people are only working, they go to earn money, nobody has time there. Even if there is a community, still one’s life is lonely. That aspect is something that people will have to understand.

There are different takeaways from the film. For me, the quote: ‘there is nothing called average’ stands out. Was there any takeaway for you?

We always say ‘live in the moment’. But I used to ask how? Give me an example as to how I can live in the moment? So, I did this film with a lot of a purpose — how to live in that moment. A real example is that of Arjun’s character because he doesn’t have time. He might not wake up tomorrow morning. So, he says each moment is the time I have. I also touched this mental health issue because we start cribbing about small things in life while people are struggling with so many things. You can still live, eat and be happy and have a joyful life. So, that’s my takeaway.

I am sure a lot of people must have told you that we got the Piku vibe here with Abhishek Bachchan and Ahilya Bamroo playing father and daughter...

You may find that but I think it’s not fair to make any comparisons. It’s not fair if somebody tells me you know I got a feeling of Sujoy Ghosh’s film. It’s not right for me because it’s an independent way of looking at it and I have evolved. I did Piku 10 years back and I am somebody else now. So it’s not fair to compare anything from that film at all. We should watch this film in its purity and then criticise or appreciate it.

In an era of thriller and larger-than-life dramas with narratives of blood and gore appealing to people more, how do you think your stories will survive?

Well, you have to be at it. You cannot leave and run away and chase whatever is working and conventional. As I said, if I am evolving as a person, my films will also evolve. I cannot be somebody else and my film cannot be somebody else. Somewhere it has to be me. I have a feeling somewhere this film will survive. Maybe it will take some time.

It’s a film that fills you with positivity. Do you have an all time favourite film that just lifts your spirit?

There are two films. One is The Bicycle Thief by Vittorio De Sica. And, the other is The Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray. These are my go-to films. Watching them makes me more fearless and I’m able to do the kind of films that I want to do.

What are you working on next?

I have subjects of romance and mythology on my mind. Let’s see.