Smriti's interview on Maniben.Com

I have heard that your first play KUCH TUM KAHO KUCH HUM KAHEIN has done well. Is that why you decided to venture into co-producing and acting in MANIBEN.COM, your new play?
Well I am sure you will be delighted to know that I was the co-producer of KTKKHK as well and decided to co-produce my maiden Gujarati venture, as I wanted to put my money where my mouth is.

What role do you play in it?
Maniben is a traditional Gujarati lady whose entire life revolves around her family especially her husband. Though her husband goes from strength to strength climbing the social ladder she gets left behind and is often ridiculed for her naivety. The play is about her journey from being a simple village belle to a woman who knows how to carve a niche for herself in society. At the same time, although she grows to have a modern outlook, she prefers the traditional way of life.

Is there not an apparent contradiction then in Maniben's personality? What I mean is that to develop a modern sensibility, one has to often question deep-seated traditional beliefs. Is your Maniben therefore a woman who succumbs to convenience or is the character more complex than she appears?
Modernity and traditional beliefs need not always be in conflict with each other. One can wear a saree and yet have a modern outlook towards life. That is exactly what my Maniben aims to project- that modernity is a state of mind and is not necessarily projected by the need to have a career. All Maniben wants to do is to put forth a simple message that one can be a traditionalist at heart and yet walk hand in hand with the rest of the world keeping up with the times.

Why did you decide to open the play in Ahemdabad?
Since Gujarati is not my first language our biggest challenge was to face a Gujrati audience on the home ground. We were extremely keen on being accepted by the Gujarati audience on their home turf. For that would have cemented my place as a Gujrati speaking actor. I am extremely grateful for not only having received immense support from the cast and crew but also from audience members who came to give a special pat on my back after each show. This encouraged me to quite an extent. All in all, opening the play in Ahmedabad was the best thing that ever happened to me.

So far what has the audience response been like?
Audience response has been overwhelming. We have run to packed houses ever since we've opened, and most of the time it is delightful to see audience members standing in the aisles to watch. I think what surprises most people is that our project does not run only on star value but has fantastic content and talent that is projected on stage. There is this particular family in Ahmedabad who have come to watch my play thrice. That just goes to show their appreciation for our teamwork.

Would you attribute your success in the theatre to the fact that you are a well-known TV star enjoying celebrity status?
I think theatre is the only medium where one can survive on the basis of his/her craft and talent. Celebrity or no celebrity- if you can't act and I mean genuinely act then you don't make a place for yourself on the stage. The fact that I have had two hits at the box office, one Hindi and one Gujarati have made me come to terms with the fact that maybe I did deserve all the awards that I got for my television work.

Where do you see yourself amongst the many other TV stars who have turned to the theatre?
Fortunately I am not only acting but also producing for the theatre. Also the fact that I have had two hits at the box office might make me a bit different from the others. The rest I will leave for you to decide

How do you define the theatre?
Theater brings the actor in me alive. After a fourteen-hour day I still look forward to my performance on stage. For it not only keeps me in touch with my audience but also helps me refine my craft. If you ask me to define it in words then I would say Theater is the best tonic that helps an actor grow.

Which is the last best play you saw and why?
It was a one-act competition of plays performed by college students from all over Gujarat. And honestly speaking their talent, their passion was such that it made me want to work harder on my project.

Who is your favourite playwright?
Shakespeare. In particular, I like his MERCHANT OF VENICE.

You now own a production company of your own. What kind of projects do you wish to see fulfilled? What is the philosophy behind the kind of work you do or expect your company to do?
KTKKHK and Maniben are out and out entertainers and yet they have a very strong social message to deliver. My Hindi play depicted not only the generation gap but also helped people understand the life of a couple that have spent their life building a house while forgetting that all a family needs is a home. Maniben on the other hand is a woman's determination to prove herself to be an equal to any man. It helps us understand a woman, who chose to lead a traditional way of life but is no less happy than those women who step out in the world to pursue a career. The idea behind the kind of theatre I am doing, is to make people laugh, make them cry and help them go back home with a new understanding of their life and their relationships.