Behind the mask

MUMBAI, September 23: From the fast paced world of ad film making to serious theatre seems like quite a big jump. But Shilpa Navalkar, 24, has made the transition smoothly enough. She plays Mahatma Gandhi8217;s daughter-in-law in the acclaimed Hindi play Gandhi Viruddh Gandhi which deals with Gandhi8217;s tumultuous relationship with his son, Harilal. Though this is her most high-profile role so far, she has been on stage for the last 10 to 12 years during her school and college years.

She was in Durga Jhali Gauri, a ballet choreographed by Sulabha Deshpande while still in school. But she didn8217;t end up on the commercial Marathi stage because, quot;It involves a lot of touring and that8217;s not my cup of tea,quot; she says.

However Gandhi Viruddh Gandhi was so appealing that she insisted on being a part of it, in some way. Shilpa then went on to become the assistant director of the Gujarati, Hindi and Marathi versions of Gandhi8230; and she also plays Harilal8217;s wife. Assisting Chandrakant Kulkarni was a rewarding experience but Shilpa doesn8217;t wish to be a full time director or actress. quot;I just flowed with the tide but I am actually an ad film and docudrama maker,quot; she says. Shilpa8217;s ad agency, Adyut, has made the ads for Lloyd8217;s Finance and Ranjeet Soap. And the cultural inclination seems to run in the family with her father Pramod Navalkar being Maharashtra8217;s cultural affairs minister.