Bollywood
filmmakers – Anubhav Sinha, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta, Ketan Mehta and
Subhash Kapoor are planning to come together for an anthology film (series of
short films) based on stories and experiences from the ongoing pandemic.

In an interview with The Times of India, Anubhav
said, “This is such an interesting time, you know – even though I realise
interesting may not be the best word. Sudhir bhai’s driver had contracted COVID
and he was unable to get a bed – and we were making all sorts of phone calls
just to get him a hospital bed. Uss raat mere dimaag mein aaya ki humein usko
document karna chahiye (I had the idea that night that we should document all
of it). And what better way to do it than different filmmakers looking at
different things? Sudhir bhai ke pitaji ki death hui COVID period mein. We lost
Irrfan – aur hum Irrfan ke janaaze par bhi nahi jaa paye. Nikloon ki nahi
nikloon… Tigmanshu ko police se jhagda karna pada – he said main toh jaaonga,
bhai hai mera (Sudhirs father died during Covid period. We could not attend
Irrfan’s funeral. Should I step out or not. Tigmanshu had to fight the police
saying ‘I will go, he was my brother’),” he said.

Anubhav recently took to Twitter to
declare that he is resigning from Bollywood. He tweeted that he has had ‘enough’ and is ‘resigning’ from the Indian film industry.

The ‘Thappad’ director added that he also wanted Anurag Kashyap
to be a part of the anthology, but it could not happen as he is busy with
another project. He said, “Hansal’s story is quite comic and quite
tragic. Sudhir bhai’s is political, quite political. Subhash’s is also
political, but in a different way. I am still struggling with my story – I want
to tell an atmospheric story, which is about fear. I live on the 20th floor and
I can see a very large expanse of Mumbai from my window. It has suddenly
started looking like a deserted, dead city. And Ketan is saying ‘ main dekh ke
batata hoon’ ( laughs).”

Talking
about the project, Subhash Kapoor, ‘Jolly LLB’ director said, “The world has
not seen anything like this ever before, it’s crucial to chronicle this period
and explore stories around, I look forward to this journey with like minded friends.”

Sudhir added that they hope to begin filming by
November. “If someone has to shoot indoors, then that is easier. But if the
story demands outdoor shots, crowds – which you assume a political story will –
then we have to see till what time that becomes possible,” he added.