Apurva Asrani Channels Personal Grief into New Short Film 'The Pact'
Producer, writer, and editor Apurva Asrani has opened up about the emotional origins of his upcoming short film 'The Pact'. He reveals the project draws deeply from his own relationship with his late father. Asrani transforms personal grief into a poignant narrative for the screen.
A Creative Pause and a Personal Loss
It has been five years since Apurva Asrani's last released work. That was 'Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors' in 2020. During this extended period, he wrote multiple series that have not yet seen release. This creative hiatus coincided with a profound personal event. Asrani lost his father in 2023. This experience of loss became the emotional bedrock for 'The Pact'.
Recalling a Complicated Father-Son Bond
Reflecting on his father in a conversation with Mid-Day, Asrani shared intimate details. "I had known my father as a strong, strict, larger-than-life personality," he said. "Vulnerability wasn't part of his language." He spoke about watching his father's growing dependence and the emotional impact it had on him.
"I realised he believed his vulnerability was a burden on the family," Asrani explained. "I loved him deeply, but I was also afraid of him. That generation believed discipline and distance mattered." He admitted they never fully discovered a shared emotional language, a common theme in many Indian families.
The Story Behind 'The Pact'
The short film is led by actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay. It follows a man who revisits his late father's home. There, he confronts a host of unresolved memories. The film's title originates from a real incident in Asrani's own life.
He recalled a specific memory. "Once, my father had hit me. Later, he felt immense guilt. He took me out for ice cream, apologised, and said, 'Let's not be trapped by father-son roles. Let's be friends,'" Asrani shared. He described this moment as a rare glimpse of his father's hidden vulnerability, a fleeting pact that left a lasting impression.
Stepping into the Producer's Role
With Lakshmi R Iyer directing the short film, Asrani made a key decision. He stepped into the role of producer himself. His reason was clear: to safeguard the project's emotional core.
"When a story is this personal, a lot can be lost in translation," he explained. "Producing allowed me to protect it." He wanted to ensure the intimate, authentic feel of the narrative remained intact throughout the filmmaking process.
A Reflective Film in a Commercial Landscape
Apurva Asrani describes 'The Pact' as a reflective and understated piece of cinema. He positions it far from the spectacle of mainstream Bollywood. Reflecting on his own journey, which includes acclaimed films like 'Satya' (1998), 'Shahid' (2013), and 'Aligarh' (2016), he expressed concern.
He lamented the shrinking creative space for grounded, realistic storytelling in the industry. "Stories about real people and universal struggles are disappearing," Asrani stated. He added that when commercial pressures overtake pure storytelling, creators often find themselves forced to tell their important stories independently, outside the major studio system.
This new short film represents his commitment to that very kind of authentic, personal filmmaking.
