Nagesh Kukunoor was inspired to make Aashayein, after listening to case histories his oncologist bro narrated to him

Nagesh Kukunoor was inspired to make Aashayein, a film revolving around cancer patients, because of his brother Dr Rajesh Kukunoor, an oncologist based in Arizona, USA.

The conversations the director had with his sibling served as the reference point for the John Abraham-Sonal Sehgal starrer. Says the director, "My brother often related the case histories of his patients to us at home. He would tell us that it was never easy having conversations with them and gauging the way they would respond."

He adds, "It was intriguing to know how these people responded. In fact, the cool dudes would end up being the weakest while the ones who appeared scared and nervous were the ones who showed the greatest resilience!"

Kukunoor, however, has not based his film on any one particular patient his brother treated. "I have woven together several case histories I heard for the movie's subject."

He points out that it is easy for a fun, comic film to find an audience but it is heartening when you take an alternate subject (like Aashayein) and find the same.