Thappad may be weeks away from release, but director Anubhav Sinha wears a look of contentment that probably comes from the knowledge that he has made a good film. So confident is he of his storytelling that come next week, the filmmaker will host screenings of the Taapsee Pannu starrer across five cities — including Bhopal, Lucknow, Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai — leading up to its release on February 28.

While he attributes the decision to the marketing team, Sinha adds that he is eager to witness the discussions that the drama sparks. "I have made this film for men, not women. We are trying to figure out the audience — while some mediapersons will be invited, the rest will be local artistes from the world of literature and music. I chose Lucknow as one of the cities because we shot the film there and I love the city," explains the director.