Small Screen To Stage - Article

Television actors are getting very interested in theatre these days. Of course, the veterans have always managed to balance theatre and TV like Apara Mehta and Manoj Joshi. There's the other brigade lot including Tanaaz and Bakhtyaar Iraani, Delnaazz Paul, Vandana Sajnani that do plays every now and then. There's a newer lot now that's getting as excited about performing live. Young actors like Disha Vakani, Nilam Panchal, Mihir Rajda are taking part in theatre. Aashka Goradia of Kkussum fame who is now seen in Laagi Tujhse Lagan, is excited about her comedy play. "Doing a comedy and that, too, a play for the first time is a big high," she admits. "I am very excited about doing a play. Theatre is the only place where actors achieve finesse." It's a great learning experience, actors say. "What I am today is because of what the stage had taught me," says Disha Vakani, who is currently doing the show Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma. Disha was last seen on stage when she was part of the play titled Kamaal Patel Vs Dhamaal Patel.
The reach of the tube is immense. And actors are aware of the popularity quotient that television lets them enjoy. But, at the same time, love for the stage makes them look for opportunity. And yes, these days with work becoming a little less on TV, there's also a lot of free time for them to pursue their interests. Mahesh Thakur is returning to theatre after six years and is successfully balancing his work on all three mediums — theatre, TV and films. Harsh Chhaya, too, enjoys doing his occassional plays. Just some time ago, Barkha Bisht took up theatre and was thrilled with the experience. For Apara Mehta, theatre will always be top priority. "TV has made a great contribution to my life. But theatre will be my first love," says Apara, who is currently part of the Gujarati play Jaa Taari Saathe Kitta. Rehearsals are time consuming and doing a play along with a TV show is tough. But, says Mihir Rajda, who is in the show Hamaari Devrani, "One should be committed and more calculative keeping in mind the travel time in Mumbai." Mihir has done a Hindi play titled Jeeney Ki Raah and is known for his performance in the Gujarati play Lagna Nu Gaadu Chaale Adu.
However, experienced actors aren't too sure of the level of commitment that the current generation of actors have for the stage. As Apara puts it, "Especially, the young today think that it is easy to act. But believe me acting in front of the camera and acting on a stage sets are two different mediums. As soon as the curtain raises, the way the actor pours in the emotions, it all needs to be genuine. Whereas in television, the camera manages to camouflage your follies." Well, the stage seems to be getting set for a two-act play of a different kind.

source: Bombay Times