Posted:
Actor Manasi Parakh
Gohil is much excited
about performing at the
upcoming Globe To
Globe Festival in London this month. Directed by renowned theatre
director Sunil Shanbag,
the play Maro Piyu
Gayo Rangoon (presented as Sau Saaru Jenu
Chevat Saru at the fest)
marks the director's
first stint in Gujarati
theatre, and is a musical adaptation of
William Shakespeare's
All's Well That Ends
Well.
So how does it feel
like to perform at the
prestigious festival? "I
think it is a brilliant
show. Sunil Shanbag is
a maverick and I always
wanted to work with
him," says an excited
Manasi, adding, "So
when I got a chance to
actually be a part of his
first Gujarati play, I immediately jumped on
it."
The play has already
proved to be a big hit in
the home turf as it's
been running housefull
since the last few
weeks. "We are leaving
for London next week
and there's a lot to look
forward to," she says.
The actor admits
that though she is totally enjoying doing theatre, TV remains her
first love. "For me, after
doing television, taking
to stage as a singer, performer, is a wholesome
experience. In fact,
Sunil had contacted me
only after he saw me on
TV. So it's television,
which has made me
what I am and given me
all the opportunities
that have come my
way," Mansi reveals.
"I have done theatre
before. I was a part of
this play called A brief
Candle, which was written by Mahesh Dattani.
This is my second play,"
she continues. "Theatre, I feel, helps you get
your grounding. And of
course, nothing compares to the high of performing live to a big audience. Certainly, TV is
a priority, but as an actor, theatre is so fullfilling even though it doesn't pay a lot."
She says that a live
performance is always
very challenging compared to a TV show as
one needs to be polished in his/her acting skills. Though
Manasi has a lot of
theatre offers
pouring in, she believes in doing
one thing at a
time and focussing on her TV
ventures next. "I
do one thing at a
time. After completing
this show, I shall get
back to doing TV
shows. I respect TV,
it has a tremendous
reach. It can make
you a household
name."
Manasi plays
the role of Helena in the play —
a woman who's
in love with a
man who refuses to reciprocate
her feelings.
"She's a go-getter and she gets
the man to marry her but then
there are conditions put forth
by this guy. It's
about how she
deals with these
situations that
make her appealing. She's manipulative and
conniving. I
wish I were
more like her,"
she jokes.
b_shreya@
dnaindia.net
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
