Ram Gopal Bajaj to get Kalidas Samman

Veteran theatre actor-director Ram Gopal Bajaj will be felicitated with Kalidas Samman, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government, for his work in the field of theatre.

The award will be given in the presence of dignitaries at the All India Kalidas Festival in Ujjain on October 31.

Bajaj, a former Director of the National School of Drama (NSD), feels honoured.

"I am 77 now, so there's not so much time left that a boost would matter... I will be getting this award in Ujjain," he told IANS over phone from Lonavala where he lives.

He said he had dabbled with the Sanskrit writer Kalidasa's works multiple times in his life.

"In 1975, in Ujjain, we did a play on Kalidasa at a festival. After that too, I have been doing something or the other on the subject. It was a play based on Kalidasa's life. The award by his name has been given to our gurus over the years.

"Therefore, getting such an award is an honour and a proud moment. The fact that I got it at the fourth stage of my life, at this age... Now I am again thinking about the play... Maybe I do something on it again, although for me to do a live theatre production at this age is not so easy," he added.

Still active on the small screen, big screen and theatre, Bajaj is currently working on TV show "Rishton Ka Chakravyuh". He will also feature in Kangana Ranaut-starrer "Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi".

He has played an important role in organising prestigious theatre activities like NSD's Bharat Rang Mahotsav and has worked in plays like "Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se Surya Ki Pehli Kiran Tak", "Skandagupta", "Qaid-e-Hayat" and "Ek Din Ashad Ka".

He has also translated Girish Karnad's play "Rakt Kalyan" in Hindi.

On the movie front, Bajaj has featured in projects like "Utsav", "Parzania", "Chandni" and "Mango Dreams".

--IANS

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