Inside Out

quot;Everything has improved. The maintenance is better, there is more money coming in now. And many more people come to watch the plays nowadays.quot;

What did it feel like when he stood in the lightroom for the first time and watched the actors step on stage?

quot;I don8217;t remember much. I think it was a play called Bicchhoo. Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah were acting in it.quot; But he does remember how in those days they would stand at the gates with bags in hand, asking people to drop in whatever they could. quot;We collected donations at the end of each play until the Rs Seven to Rs 10 tickets were introduced.quot;

Bhagu was 20 and had just studied till Class IV when he joined Prithvi. Whatgot him the job at the city8217;s best-known theatre?

quot;I was working at the Chabildas High School at that time. I was lucky that Dharam Singh Merchant, who was the manager of the theatre at that time, asked me to come to Prithvi. He took me to meet Shashiji, and I got the job. I used to get Rs 500 to Rs 600 a month at that time. Even today, whenever Shashiji comes to the theatre he always asks me how I8217;m doing.quot;

What has it been like working with the Kapoors?

quot;They are such good people. Jennifer madam ran this place so efficiently. Now her daughter is handling the work so well. It is not easy for a woman to manage all this.quot;

He has spent 20-odd years working behind the curtains. Hasn8217;t he ever been tempted to go out there and be in the spotlight himself?

quot;The thought has crossed my mind, but I have always been too scared to give it a shot.quot; That is also the reason why he hasn8217;t ventured into films, even as a lightsman. quot;I haven8217;t studied much. What if I don8217;t understand the script onthe sets or something like that happens? I like what I am doing today and I8217;m very happy at Prithvi.quot;