Batra, who started the initiative for those who aspire to be a part of filmmaking, said it was also an attempt to reimagine the city's Irani Cafes as cultural spaces.
"The cafes are an important part of the city's heritage and we cannot lose them to the winds of change. We have done sessions on writing, directing, acting and casting with industry professionals and now both people from the industry and cafe owners have reached out to us to be part of this effort," Batra told PTI.
The director said that for their future sessions, they would expand into areas other than films. He is also planning to create a mobile app that will document the history of each of these cafes along with the best dishes that they offer.
Batra's impressive debut "Lunchbox", starring Irrfan Khan, Nawaz and Nimrat Kaur, was set in Mumbai and revolved around three characters -- an about to retire government employee, his substitute and a lonely housewife.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
