In a way, The Family Man could have been a fitting title for Manoj Bajpayee’s next. While the popular web series has less to do with familial bonds and more to do with spies, it is in his upcoming film Gulmohar that the actor explores the realities of a dysfunctional family. What drew him to the family drama? Director Rahul Chittella’s fresh voice, he says. “I loved the way the characters’ interpersonal dynamics are written. It will move you,” begins Bajpayee.

An interesting mix of artistes makes up Gulmohar’s world. Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, who is making a comeback 13 years after Break Ke Baad (2010), plays the matriarch in the Disney+ Hotstar offering, while Bajpayee portrays her son in the inter-generational drama. Add senior artiste Amol Palekar, south star Simran, and Suraj Sharma of Life of Pi (2012) fame, and you’ve got a dependable and delightful cast.