Anand has been developing a film on a pandemic over the past few years.
With the Covid-19 outbreak, the director is reshaping the script. He now wants to focus on the aftermath of a pandemic in his film.
"(Earlier) we had planned to give information about the nature of a pandemic (through the film). Now that we all know what it's like to be in the midst of one, I don't have to educate the audience about its nuances," Anand said.
"So, we have had to make some changes in the script. I can directly take the audience to the next stage and depict how life could be post-pandemic. That is the new normal we will experience. That was always the crux of my story," he added.
The director continued: "Sushant is a dear friend. So, I always work on the assumption that he will be part of what I create. I have Australian actor Hugo Weaving in mind. I also need four women actors for the principal cast."
"Emergence" is set to go on floors next year.
On the work front, Sushant will next be seen in Mukesh Chhabra's "Dil Bechara".