New Delhi 

Naseeruddin Shah is back with a short film, one that the veteran actor believes is of hope at a time when the vast majority of people are in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Titled "Half Full", the film is directed by debutante filmmaker Karan Rawal and also features Vikrant Massey. The story is about a man on the verge of taking a crucial decision when he meets an older person. The meeting alters his perspective towards life, death and self.

Shah said it is a strange case of happenstance that the core idea of the film has become relevant to the current times. "When the film was made, we were hardly in this kind of situation. The situation has become relevant to the movie, I would say. I'm sure that a lot of people today will find identification with that young protagonist of the movie... This is a hopeful film and might help people cope with this time when loneliness is all around us," Shah told PTI in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

The actor said that short films are ideal for budding actors and directors to begin their journey in cinema. "Half Full" is part of nine shorts that will be screened on ZEE5 during the streamer's upcoming 'Short Film Festival'. It will premiere on April 15.

The 69-year-old actor has featured in quite a number of short films recently. He has previously been a part of shorts like "Interior Cafe Night", "Rogan Josh" and "The Wallet", among others.