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What’s common between the lead pairs of the films Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) and 2 States? Both are young, urban, unabashed and unapologetic about their choices. Their reel persona looked believable because they spoke the language of today’s youth. And the credit goes to the film’s young dialogue writer, 24-year-old Hussain Dalal, also a theatre actor. Now, Dalal will be seen playing multiple characters in two plays — Saraswati’s Way and Internal Affairs, to be staged at Nehru Memorial Hall. Both plays are presented by Act One Scene One and produced by Akvarious Productions.
While children’s play Saraswati’s Way,based on Monika Schroder’s novel of the same name, is about a young and ambitious boy Akash, who moves to a bigger city to fulfill his dreams; Internal Affairs is a story of two characters — Sid and Rhea — the quintessential young and spirited colleagues caught in a comical situation. “In Akarsh Khurana’s Saraswati’s Way, I play three characters — the protagonist’s friend Deepak, Raavan in the Ramleela section and one of the students in the class. I have been a part of this play ever since it premiered last May,” says Dalal, adding that in Internal Affairs, he plays the three boyfriends of lead female protagonist Rhea. “I also essay the role of Sid’s grandfather,” says Dalal, who was born and brought up in Mumbai but calls himself a Puneite. “My parents shifted to Pune in 2007. So though I stay in Mumbai, I keep visiting Pune,” he adds.
As compared to plays that cater to adult audiences, a children’s play comes with its set of challenges, feels Dalal. “The main task is to hold the attention of the children; for which one needs to have childlike energy and keep it going. Children as audience are less forgiving. They are very sharp and can immediately spot if you as an actor make a mistake,” says Dalal, who made his theatre debut in 2006 with Digvijay Sawant’s play Time to Tell a Tale. Other plays in which he has worked as an actor include Afshaneh: Bai se Bioscope Tak, Classic Milds, Baghdad Wedding, Rafta Rafta, A Special Bond (Part I and II), Tintin and The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat. He was also seen as an actor in the recently-released film Pizza.
Talking about his break as a dialogue writer in films, Dalal recalls, “When Ayan (Mukherjee) was looking for a dialogue writer for YJHD, someone suggested my name to him. When I met him, I told him ‘I know acting but I can’t write.’ However, he gave me a couple of scenes to write. After seeing my work, he signed me. Later, for 2 States, Ayan suggested my name to director Abhishek Verman.” His upcoming projects as a dialogue writer include Happy Ending by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, romantic action thriller Roy by Vikramjit Singh and an untitled project by Mohit Suri.
So now does he feel confident to write dialogues for serious and intense projects that has senior actors in the lead? “I would like to explore those too. I’m a by-product of instinct. When I wrote YJHD, I was just 22. I take a conscious effort to sign films that are different from each other, and also help me grow as a dialogue writer,” he says. Dalal confesses that between writing and acting, he enjoys acting more. “Gradually I am beginning to enjoy writing too,” he adds.
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