Second Coming

The Hindi version of hit Marathi play Dhyanimani,written by Prashant Dalvi,Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai has Kiran Karmarkar playing the male lead and is being produced by Shefali’s husband,filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah. Vipul is also the presenter of the play,a socio-psychological thriller that talks about the purpose of life and how reality is replaced by illusions. “We both love theatre and,for us,Dhyanimani is a benchmark in theatre,It recounts an extraordinary journey of an ordinary mother. Her world is like anyone else’s but once she takes you in,it’s unreal,magical,with layers and layers,wrapped in intricacies of the human mind…”

Shefali feels the connection even more strongly for now she too has experienced motherhood. “Had I not been a mother,I would have never got the soul of the story. The character,Shalini,has conviction in her belief and doesn’t falter. She is extremely protective,too,” says Shefali,adding that she is herself “a practical mom” and can relate to the fact that motherhood can be an obsession. “I’m a paranoid mum too,” she laughs.

Back to the play,Shefali says she is practically undoing herself all over again. “Theatre requires a dedication that can take everything out of you. You have to give your 1000 per cent since 100 per cent won’t do,” she says. Shah will be travelling with the play all over the country and abroad,and will soon come to Chandigarh too. “Vipul,who has been a part of four plays before,wants to get back to theatre,so you will see more of us on stage,” she says.