Bollywood presence helps theatre audience grow: Satish Kaushik

Actor-director Satish Kaushik, who is returning to stage with a new play, feels presence of Bollywood faces contributes significantly towards the growth of theatre audience.
"With many known people like Anupam (Kher), Shabana (Azmi), Saurabh Shukla in the theatre circuit working regularly on stage, we realize the audience for theatre has grown," the actor told PTI.
Recalling his initial days as a performer in Mumabi's Prithvi theatre, Kaushik, who was last seen in "Udta Punjab" shares how after a show, actors would rush out to gather money from the audience.
"When Prithvi theatre was inaugurated, as soon as the show got over, we all rushed out 'aur jholi phaila ke khade ho jaate they' and people would throw in Rs 4-5.

"Today people are spending money to buy tickets worth thousands of rupees to watch us perform live because they have grown fond of watching theatre," he says.
The actor,60, however feels that the momentum of the growth can be maintained only if the number of shows as well as performing centres are increased, not just in metro cities but also in smaller towns.

"We must raise the number of theatres for staging plays in the country. The more, the merrier. Apart from big cities like Mumbai and Delhi, every state should make an effort and encourage plays by increasing the numbers of theatres."

Talking about his new play titled, "Mr and Mrs Murarilal", directed by playwright Saif Haider Hasan, Kaushik says that the plot attempts to highlight the realities of different aspects of life - old age, friendship and love.
Kuashik as Mr Murarilal will be seen romancing actress Meghna Malik. He says both the script and the performances aim to strike an emotional chord with the audience while keeping the humour alive.
The play comes after a long gap of over 14 years, during which the actor performed several re-runs of Feroz Khan's "Salesman Ramlal," an adaptation of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," before taking a break from theatre.

"I needed a gap obviously. Although there were offers for plays but I was looking for some meaty content. I found Hasan's theme very attractive and something that people can relate to. So, I decided to come on board.
"It defies the stereotypes of old age and attempts to inspire that one should not lose hope and just give up when they grow old," he says.
The play is scheduled to be staged here on September 17 and 18.