Delhi Belly writer Akshat Verma directs a short film Mama’s Boys that transplants the complicated marital status of the Pandavas and Draupadi to 2016, with shattering effects.

Watch Aditi Rao Hydari as modern Draupadi and Neena Gupta as Kunti

How would it have been if Mahabharata was set in modern times? Especially when Draupadi was asked to be shared between the five brothers? Would the Pandavas have respected their mother Kunti’s words to share the bride without any resistance? How would have Draupadi handled her being treated as an object? What would have a 21st-century modern woman done in this situation?

Here, Draupadi is allowed as little agency and free will in being apportioned in fifths to each brother as she was in mythology. But this Draupadi is not shy and is very bold. Played seductively by Aditi Rao Hydari, the choices she makes serve nobody but herself and she is able to turn the situation she finds herself in to her own advantage.

Aditi is just one of an impressive ensemble cast. Neena Gupta stars as Kunti – here, the stubborn Punjabi mother of five laadla betas, dishing out tinda masala and happily oblivious that her two youngest sons are gay and not interested in the twin prospective brides she has lined up.

Arunoday Singh appears as the buff but dim Bhim, who pumps iron with his girlfriend Hidimba and is easy pickings for the sultry Draupadi.

Amol Parashar is cast as the hapless Arjun, bringing home his hard-won bride to mom, who won’t relent after ordering him to ‘share’ because she never goes back on her word – even though just the day before she said she was going to cook chicken but didn’t.

Akshay Oberoi is a dissolute perma-sunglassed Yudhishthir, borrowing from his brother to keep gambling. Nakul and Sahdev, gay designers and on Arjun’s side until mom demands they meet prospective brides of their own, are played by Vivaan Shah and Jim Sarbh.

Mama’s Boys is also a swan song for Razak Khan, who died in June, and makes a brief appearance here as Shakuni Mama.