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Long before Dev.D catapulted Kalki Koechlin into fame,the actor had discovered the power of the stage.

Kalki Koechlin turns playwright and into the Skeleton Woman

Long before Dev.D catapulted Kalki Koechlin into fame,the actor had discovered the power of the stage. She now prepares to stage her play The Skeleton Woman in Delhi over this weekend,and looks set to join the ranks of Bollywood denizens who remain theatre actors all their lives.

The Skeleton Woman is inspired by an Inuit folk tale about a fisherman who one day nets a skeleton. The skeleton woman follows him home and a deep bond develops between them. The tale haunted me. Its about life,love,loneliness and death,and about metaphorical deaths within relationships, says Koechlin. It affected her enough to become a playwright. When I started writing,I didnt know which way to go. I had never written a script,so I was naturally very worried, says Koechlin,who studied drama at Goldsmiths University in London and acted at Londons Theatre of Relativity for two years before returning to India and becoming part of the Mumbai theatre circuit.

Midway through scripting,Koechlin turned to her Mumbai co-actor Prashant Prakash for help and together they had the script ready by January. Along the way,the protagonist becomes a young writer who is also a fisherman. He has a powerful imagination and often finds himself tangled in his own creations. With sharks in his living room,a goose that speaks,and a skeleton thats driving him mad,he struggles to have a grasp on whats real and whats in his head. With him through all of this is his wife who is constantly trying to bring him back to earth, says Prakash,24,who was with Company Theatre until he decided to start Quaff Theatre with Koechlin. Directed by Nayantara Kotian,the play moves from being dark to one packed with humour. Now,it is a playful drama with a strong underlying meaning, says Koechlin.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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