Playing a part to perfection

“I wanted to reach there on my own,and did not want my father,who was a professor in the same college,to put in a word,” Shyam recalls how he bagged a major role in a play being staged for the annual fest of SD College,Ambala Cantonment. It was a comedy and after the first day of rehearsal,he knew this was what he would do for the rest of his life.

He does not regret giving up football,his another passion,for theatre. Shyam continued to hone his art till he joined ISSCO,a job in the Central government’s cooperative sector,in Chandigarh.

“I didn’t have the luxury of time any more and also knew no one in the city. I made a conscious effort to never let my profession interfere with my passion. I developed a cultural society at work,which received a great response and turned out to be a huge success and stress-buster for all,” says Juneja.

CIPA followed soon. As soon as his work wrapped up at 5 pm,Juneja would head straight to Bal Bhavan,to be with his actors. “We would do one play a month at Tagore Theatre. I never felt any stress or tiredness,” he says.

Shyam,who recently took voluntary retirement,says he refused promotions and pay hikes,so that he could stay on in the city and continue to act,direct,organise music and dance programmes and travel around the world. Motivating and guiding young artistes,says Juneja,gives him “immense satisfaction”.

“In 1992,CIPA got international affiliation and I conceptualised dance and music carnivals in the city and generated audiences for them. The essence is to keep the artiste in you alive and live your dream,” says Juneja,who is preparing for a creative summer ahead.

— Parul