Soliloquy

How has the experience of doing Khatijabai changed in the last five years?
I have grown a bit. So has Quasar. With this,a better understanding of the play has emerged. As a result,certain scenes are different now. I understand Khatijabai—an orphan girl who becomes the matriarch of one of the most influential households in Mumbai—better now. That helps me portray her character much more gracefully.

Despite drawing praises for your roles,why is your stage appearance so infrequent?
Nearly 12 years ago,I came to Mumbai looking for work. And television found me. My first show was Itihaas,followed by Kanyadaan. I have been a very hardcore television actor. In the last 12 years,I have done eight plays,including Mahatma Vs Gandhi,Mad about Money,Going Solo,Acid and Vagina Monologues. That’s not a bad number.

A number of TV actors are regularly seen on stage these days.
Some of the actors who are doing well on TV are from theatre. Most of the supporting actors in films are trained in theatre. Training is important since education,etiquettes and ethics are always missing in the field of acting.

Tell us about your theatre days in Delhi.
For four years (1992-96),I was associated with Ebrahim Alkazi’s Living Theatre and acted in nine plays under his direction. I still do plays so that I can say ‘thank you’ to him.