The world’s her stage

“My first reaction when my mother (Nadira Babbar) broke the news to me was one of surprise and disbelief,as it was an honour I never ever thought about. It took time to sink in that the President of India will be handing over an award for something which is my passion,” says Juhi who has been slowly and steadily following in her mother,veteran theatre personality,Nadira Babbar’s footsteps for over a decade now.

To many it will not be surprising as her resume is rather impressive. A keen follower of her mother’s plays and shows and an ardent admirer of her actor dad,Raj Babbar’s works since she was a child,Juhi says she was always interested in the creative arts. However,she chose to graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and started off designing costumes for Nadira’s theatre group,Ekjute.

“With two acting gurus at home,I didn’t feel the need to do any acting course and decided to pursue my other love,fashion designing. I was lucky to be instructed by the Oscar-winning stylist Bhanu Athaiya during my tenure at NIFT,” smiles Juhi.

Though acting was not entirely on her mind,she landed ‘a small part in a big play’ after she did an acting workshop with Ekjute. The play was Yehudi Ki Ladki where she played a Roman princess. “I guess with two stalwarts in acting,as my parents,it was bound to happen. And like they say,once you get the taste of performing in front of a live audience it is difficult to stop.”

Since then Juhi has performed in over 4000 shows,not only in Ekjute plays,but in other leading theatre companies as well. She has even dabbled with films,her home production Kash Aap Hamare Hote and the hit Punjabi film Yaaran Naal Baharaan. Television happened when Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Idiot Box offered her Ghar Ki Baat Hai. “I think the decision to stick to theatre after Kash Aap Hamare Hote failed,was a wise one. I was able to pursue my theatrical activities and fortunately made a name for myself in the field. But I still don’t mind doing a film and even a television serial for which offers keep pouring in,even today. Of course the part has to be meaty enough,” says Juhi who has also written,adapted and directed plays for her theatre group and for several NGOs including a short play for CRY.

Juhi,who has been conducting acting workshops with her mother since the past several years,is presently conducting training programmes for corporates and organisations and has charted out a Foundation Course for the Center For Performing Arts. “The National Award is very encouraging and I hope to do more good work. But I don’t think my achievements would have been possible were it not for the support of my parents and my guru Bhanu Athaiya,” she signs off.