Inside Out/Dr Girish Oak

And he started doing commercial theatre in Mumbai?

Not quite. With virtually no money in his pocket, Oak lived out of a suitcase in boarding houses around the city and even a near slum in Dombivli at one point, waiting for a break. Finally, he was hired as a last minute replacement for Prabhakar Neogi8217;s Saheb Viruddh Mee, just three days before the play was to open. quot;I didn8217;t have much to say, but stayed up all night to practise my lines all the same. Eventually I fumbled through the rehearsals, but still got the part.quot;

And then?

He did many minor roles 8212; most of them replacements 8212; including popular plays like Tarun Turk Mhatare Ark and To Mee Navhech. But it was his portrayal of Charles Sobhraj in Hello Charles that got him his first significant original part. quot;Mohan Wagh spotted me in that play and offered me the lead role inDeepastambh 8212; which was later made into a Hindi film called Khoon Bhari Maang. I play a poet who8217;s supposed to be in love with the heroine, but turns out to be a wily man out to grab her property. I remember how women used to shudder when I pushed her into the fireplace to kill her 8212; even my own relatives wouldn8217;t talk to me!quot;

What is his other work like?

Oak, along with Sanjay Mone tried out a unique experiment for Vinay Apte8217;s Kusum Manohar Lele. quot;I8217;d heard about two actors alternately playing Othello and Iago in successive shows, and thought it would be a good idea to try doing it here. It was tough 8212; since both the characters were very different 8212; and our co-actors started having problems with their cue. But it was challenging to act out one part and then react to it from another character8217;s standpoint the very next day.quot; Also, it kept the audiences intrigued and ensured the play a 500-show run!

What is he doing now?

He plays a famous heroine8217;s producerhusband in Abhinetri which is currently running to packed houses. quot;Initially, my character didn8217;t really have a graph or progression. But I observed people from his tribe very closely and tried to inject it with some life. Now it8217;s turned into a significant part.quot; Oak is also working in Satvya Mulichi Satvi Mulgi which is based on the subject of supernatural elements and witchcraft.

His guru?

quot;There was no one to guide me or promote me, nor did I really observe any particular actor to learn the art.quot;

His grouse?

None whatsoever. quot;It8217;s been a great experience. I8217;ve done a few good plays and really, apart from the minor hurdles here and there, Marathi theatre hasn8217;t disappointed me.quot;

8212; Deepa Deosthalee