Luck by chance

Hindi theatre actor Bajrang Bali Singh, who wanted to be a fighter pilot, now flies on a different plane

Bajrang Bali Singh (right) in a play by Asmita Theatre

A conversation with a die-hard fan of Hindi theatre about Bajrang Bali Singh begins with a blank stare. “Bajrang?” he asks. “BR Ambedkar,” we suggest. The fan’s face lights up.
Ambedkar aur Gandhi, which explores the contrasting ideologies of the two national leaders against the backdrop of the Independence movement, is as popular as it is provocative. To audiences, Singh, 35, is “the actor who plays Ambedkar”. Though Singh has acted in a gamut of plays — being staged as part of the Summer Theatre Festival of Asmita theatre group — Ambedkar is tough to dwarf. Ambedkar aur Gandhi will be staged at Sri Ram Centre in Delhi on June 29.
“I remember the date I got Ambedkar’s role, July 19, 2009. The first show was at SRC,” says Singh. He was in his late 20s at the time and had quit his job at Wipro BPO because, “one fine day, I realised that I was carrying myself to office, and this was not the life I had visualised for myself.”
Singh plays Ambedkar as a steely statesman so convincingly on stage — a woman once met him after a show and came away exulting, “I shook hands with B.R. Ambedkar” — that one looks for traces of it when he is off character. Instead, one finds a carefree man without plans or burning ambition. “I come from an Indian Air Force family in Jodhpur and wanted to be a fighter pilot. When that didn’t happen, I had no other ambition. That may be the reason my favourite character is Kharey babu in Ek Mamooli Aadmi (to be staged at SRC on July 6). He is full of life, has no future plans, no past baggage and inspires me to live in the present. I have a tiny bit of performance anxiety before every show but, with Kharey babu, I itch to get on stage,” he says.
For most of his life, Singh had never acted and rarely watched theatre. Like many amateur actors in Delhi, Singh enlisted with Asmita Theatre, run by the activist director Arvind Gaur. In a few weeks, he had landed his first role — in Final Solutions, as a part of a chorus that plays a Hindu and a Muslim mob of rioters. Ambedkar aur Gandhi happened a few months later. The play has travelled across India.
When he isn’t on stage, Singh is a voice-over artist and has taken his first steps in films. Khwaabb, in which he plays a coach, released earlier this month to a tepid response, but the actor is determined to stay with films. His new play, Asmita’s Ye Aadmi Yeh Choohe, too, opened earlier this month with Singh playing a farmhand who carries out a brutal act in this adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The play will be staged at SRC on July 12. “It’s a role that made me cry. It is incredible to live another character fully,” he says.

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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