Midlife Drama

Shukla was soon signed for Shekhar Kapoor’s Bandit Queen (1994). What fetched him instant recognition was the role of Kallu Mama in Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya (1998),which he co-wrote. He has played several memorable characters in movies and television ever since. He has even directed movies such as Pappu Can’t Dance Saala (2011) and I Am 24,which releases end of this month.

In spite of an impressive filmography,Shukla sounds elated at the prospect of returning to theatre after 18 years with Two to Tango,Three to Jive. He has directed this production where he also plays the central character. “Unlike films where you are bound by the camera,here you are unchained as an actor,” he says. According to him,one who has tasted the charm of theatre will always keep yearning for it. “Movies are a more economic option,but the rewards theatre gives you are priceless. All these years of my film career,I’ve been craving to return to the stage,” he adds.

Two to Tango,Three to Jive is an adaptation of American playwright Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers — with the characters and language drawn from the milieu Shukla grew up in. “I didn’t just want to make a shallow,humorous production; the connotations and culture of my Delhi surroundings helped me infuse realism into it,” he says.

Shukla plays the protagonist,Parminder Sethi — a man trapped in midlife crisis who has hilarious encounters with three women,with all of whom he attempts to strike illegitimate affairs. “A man in midlife crisis wants to do something radical — desperately — like excessive drinking,smoking and,of course,illegitimate affairs,” he says.

The humour,he says,is only a reminder of the human side of a character and the absurdity of life. “Hitler is represented as this larger-than-life,megalomaniac persona,but he must also have laughed,which only reminds us he too was a human being,” he explains.

The production opened on Sunday at the Tata Theatre of National Centre for Performing Arts,Mumbai. It will travel to Chennai,Bangalore,Delhi and Kolkata. Shukla chose Mumbai over Delhi — his hometown — for the premiere. What worked in Mumbai’s favour is its theatre environment. “In Delhi,people ask for free passes,whereas Mumbai is more professional and sincere. The audience here would rather buy tickets even if offered free passes,” he adds.