Khedekar returns to Hindi theatre

Sachin Khedekar is back on the floorboards with the Hindi play, Thank God Mere India Mein Aisa Nahin Hota. This political satire has Khedekar essaying the character of Topilal, who heads a country called Kutildham.

"Besides the script, what greatly excited me was the get up of the character; it has a very Roman emperor feel to it," he says.

Despite his film commitments, Khedekar is intermittently seen on stage. "Whenever time permits and the script excites me, I say yes to a play," he says.

The drama is co-produced by D S Pahwa (he produced the Padmini Kolhapure-starrer Kaash) and Nirav Parekh, who has earlier staged plays like Uncle Samjha Karo, Paying Guest, Kya Karein Control Nahin Hota and See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. The play also marks the return of writer-director Iqbal Khwaja, known for his satires like Snafu, Sab Gendien Hain, Shakespeare Ki Ramleela, on the stage circuit after a seven-year gap.

As usual, he is not making any political statement, "but only hoping the audience enjoys the production."

Play was held up

Thank God opens this Sunday at Rangsharda auditorium, with Amit Behl, Ashiesh Roy, Jignesh Joshi, Nutan and Niharika in the cast.

Says Khedekar, "This play was happening for long; it was held up because of me. Either I was sick or had other commitments." Adds producer Parekh, "Amit Behl put me on to Iqbal, and we thought Sachin was just right for the role, and finally, it all got underway."

Two years ago, after Khedekar had wrapped up the shoot of Shyam Benegal's Netaji, he acted in a Marathi play, Pratima Vasant Kulkarni's Tujhya Majhyat. Earlier, he was seen in Hindi plays like Chandrakant Kulkarni's Doctor Aap Bhi? and Nikhilesh Sharma's Shyam Rang.

No more TV

Ask him why he is not seen on TV nowadays, and he says, "There is no such thing as the need for a particular actor to play a character. In TV, everything is replaceable. And I don't think I fit into the daily TV scenario, where everything else but acting matters." Khedekar has featured in serials like Imtihaan, Sailaab and Teacher.