Actor Ayushmann Khurrana turned assistant director for Shoojit Sircar's "Madras Cafe", which hits theatres on August 23. The "Vicky Donor" star traveled to Kochi for 10 days to assist Sircar on a crucial dramatic scene between John Abraham and Siddharth Basu. "I wish I could be there for all 40 days of the Madras Cafe shoot. Shoojit has a fabulous set up. It was fascinating to see actors from a different point of view. I hope this experience results in making me a better actor," Ayushmann said in a statement.

Shoojit said Ayushmann wanted to work as a director right from his "Vicky Donor" days. "Ayushmann had told me during 'Vicky Donor' that if the film tanked and he didn't get any work thereafter, he would assist me. But the film worked and he became a star. However, to get a  better hang of direction,he did join us for a few days on the sets of 'Madras Cafe' and proved to be a talented assistant," Shoojit said.