Shabana Azmi is set to feature in an upcoming sequel to the 1983 film Masoom, titled Masoom… The Next Generation, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has confirmed in an Instagram post about his telephonic conversation with the veteran actress.

“So when Shabana Azmi asked me to at least tell the story of ‘Masoom, the next Generation’ I balked. I hesitated .. I was in London and she on the other end of the phone in Mumbai. How do (you) narrate a story to the actor you need to play a main part .. on the phone .. How do you get into the zone on the phone? So after a lot of pauses and .. umms .. and aahs .. Shabana asked me .. ‘ Shekhar I will do any film with you anyway .. but do you have a story’,” Kapur wrote on Instagram.

He continued, “That challenge suddenly propelled me into the ‘Zone’ .. I was no longer on the end of the phone.. I was in the world of my story .. I was with characters as if they were there .. speaking to me .. I could smell the physical space of my story .. I was in the ‘Zone ‘.”

“I heard a gentle sob .. and silence .. I had managed to pull Shabana into the ‘Zone’ .. on the phone .. from London to Mumbai .. After a long pause Shabana said ‘It’s beautiful, Shekhar, you have to make this film’,” the Mr. India director concluded.

Previously, Kapur revealed that the sequel to his 1983 film Masoom will revolve around the idea of home through the ordeals of an elderly couple residing in a dilapidated house.

Back in June, Kapur had revealed that the sequel would be titled Masoom… The New Generation.

Apart from Shabana Azmi, the original film also featured Naseeruddin Shah, Tanuja, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey alongside Jugal Hansraj, Aradhana and Urmila Matondkar as child actors.

Shabana was last seen in Karan Johar’s directorial Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani alongside Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Tota Roy Chowdhury and Churni Ganguly.