I Want to Talk is a 2024 Hindi-language drama film produced by Rising Sun Films and Kino Works, written by Ritesh Shah, and directed by Shoojit Sircar. The film, which stars Abhishek Bachchan in the lead role, is based on the actual story of Arjun Sen, a cancer survivor who must navigate a complicated connection with his daughter since she was a little girl and undergo life-altering surgery. California was the location of the main photography. November 5, 2024, was the release date of the trailer.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Shoojit Sircar
- Writer: Ritesh Shah
- Producer: Sheel Kumar, Ronnie Lahiri, Kumar Thakur, Karan Wadhwa
- Star Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Ahilya Bamroo, Johnny Lever
- Cinematography: Avik Mukhopadhyay
- Editor: Chandrashekhar Prajapati
- Production company: Rising Sun Films, Kino Works
- Genres: Drama, Medical Drama
- Distributor: PVR Inox Pictures
- Release date: 22 November 2024
- Running time: 122 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
I Want to Talk movie 2024 Trailer
Star Cast
- Abhishek Bachchan as Arjun Sen
- Ahilya Bamroo as Reya Sen
- Johny Lever as Johny
- Pearl Dey
- Jayant Kripalani as Dr. Jayant Deb
- Kristin Goddard as Nancy
- Dr Saivishnu Doosetty as Surgeon
- Dr. Smit Patel as Surgeon
- Dr. Raghav Dhawan as Physician
- Dr. Tamanna Mohta as Physician
- Nathalie Zepek as Physician
- Tamara Loera as a Nurse
- David Moskowitz
- Tom McLaren
- Janet Carter
- Joe Russell
- Nicholas Wagner
- Julia Megan Sullivan
- Indeepa Singh
- Billy Minshall
- Robert Ramirez
- Charles Karafotas
- Mike Sears
- Caprice Ott
- Eliza Kim
- Ian Schuelke
- Nirvan Patnaik
Story of the film
As a single dad negotiating a complicated relationship with his daughter (Reya), Arjun Sen, an NRI residing in the USA, who is undergoing life-altering surgery, finds the positive side of life. Following his wife’s divorce, they are co-parenting their daughter, Reya. After being diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, he has had 20 procedures. The cancer spreads throughout his body, harming his stomach and colon, even after surgery. He must cope with Reya in the midst of all of this, experiencing the pains of maturing. They grow apart as a result of her frequent hospital stays and your refusal to talk to her about them.
Arjun is in the seventh circle when Reya creates a schematic of the people in her life one day. Arjun sits up and considers his connection with Reya as a result. Arjun loses his marketing career after receiving his diagnosis, but he finds solace in his nurse, Nancy (Kristin Goodard). He plans a suicide at one point, but he persists despite doctors telling him he would not live for more than 100 days. However, Arjun’s pal views his surgeries as fortunate for his business, while his neighbors rumor that it is all theatrics to get attention.
Arjun meets Dr. Jayant Deb as a result of his diagnosis, and their relationship takes a wild turn. Arjun somehow defies all medical ideas and publications and has an extraordinary life. He has a deadpan and sardonic sense of humor and enjoys every day. His sickness heals the rifts in his relationship with his daughter Reya, who becomes his pillar of support and stability.
Music/Songs
While artist Taba Chake, who is also the vocalist and songwriter, wrote the soundtrack, George Joseph composed the film’s background score. “Dil Ghabraye” was the first single, and it was released on November 11, 2024. On November 14, 2024, the second single, “Gum Ho Kahan,” was made available.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer |
| 1 | “Dil Ghabraye” | Taba Chake | Taba Chake | Taba Chake |
| 2 | “Gum Ho Kahan” | Taba Chake | Taba Chake | Taba Chake |
| 3 | “Musafir” | Taba Chake | Taba Chake | Taba Chake |
| 4 | “Manzil Ki Ore” | Taba Chake | Taba Chake | Taba Chake, Toko Sama |
| 5 | “Pal Yeh Mere” | Taba Chake | Taba Chake | Taba Chake |
Release
Theatrical
After being postponed from its original release date of November 15, 2024, the movie was finally shown in theaters on November 22, 2024.
Home Media
Amazon Prime Video purchased the movie’s digital streaming rights.
Review
Critics gave I Want to Talk favorable reviews, praising Bachchan’s performance. With an average rating of 6/10, 70% of reviewers’ reviews on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes are positive.
A higher level of preparation would have given this narrative of a Don Draper-type’s will to overcome a fatal prognosis more emotional weight, according to Catherine Bray of The Guardian, who awarded it two stars out of five. Abhishek Bachchan conveys the numerous chapters and challenges of his mind, body, and soul with a never-before candour, noted Rediff.com’s Sukanya Verma, who scored it 3.5 stars out of 5.
Abhishek Bachchan lets go of vanity, revealing a thickened gut, scars on the belly, and an ability to bear, commented Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, who awarded it 2.5/5 ratings. But you want more after watching Shoojit Sircar’s flick.
The actor has fully committed to the role, displaying a side of Abhishek that we have not seen in a long time, according to Devesh Sharma of Filmfare, who gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars. Watch it to enjoy the superb performances and the subtly powerful message it conveys.
Bollywood Hungama awarded Abhishek Bachchan a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5, although they also praised his acting, writing that it was one of his best performances to date. Abhishek seamlessly inhabits his role, making it easy to forget that one is witnessing him on television.
According to Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times, Bachchan’s role in the movie effectively utilizes his real-life personality as a laid-back individual, incorporating some of the movie’s greatest one-liners.
India’s Zinia Bandyopadhyay awarded it four stars out of five today. In I Want To Talk, Abhishek Bachchan plays Arjun Sen flawlessly, and Shoojit Sircar skillfully uses stillness to heighten the narrative.
According to Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India, who gave it a rating of 3.5 out of 5, “I want to talk” is not a very captivating novel, but it is also not a heartwarming tale. It serves as a reminder that you are far stronger than you believe.
In his assessment, Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost stated that he wrote The video provides a moving examination of suffering, resiliency, grief, and willpower. The many voice-overs, which are recounted in Abhishek Bachchan’s voice and spoken from his point of view, are appropriate since they capture the few times he can express himself freely.
Shoojit Sircar’s human drama about the transience of life and relationships is caught between periods of reflection and immobility, according to a review by Anuj Kumar of The Hindu.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025b, June 4). I want to talk. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_to_Talk#Home_Media
- I Want to Talk (2024) ⭐ 7.1 | Drama. (2024, November 22). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27866861/
