On April 19, Pankaj Tripathi returns to the Calcutta stage — his “first love” — with a Hindi play titled La-Ilaaj. Produced by the actor and his wife Mridula under their banner Rupkatha Rangmanch and written and directed by Faiz Muhammad Khan, the contemporary musical comedy drama, in association with t2 and t2ONLINE, will be staged at Kala Mandir at 6.30pm (details in box).
La-Ilaaj, based on themes of love, consent and self-respect, features Pankaj Tripathi in a cameo and his daughter Aashi in a full-length role, along with a talented ensemble cast. t2 chatted with the actor on his return to theatre, the idea behind La-Ilaaj and why he has taken a step back from back-to-back screen outings.
You have always had a special connection with Calcutta. What are the emotions like as you prepare to take the stage after so long in the city?
My selection for NSD (National School of Drama) happened from Calcutta. Among the jury for the first round in Calcutta, Ushadi (Usha Ganguly) was present and it took place in Padatik. Calcutta has played a big role in my artistic journey. My creative learnings have largely been in the city. My wife (Mridula) is from Calcutta... the first city I left my home state Bihar and visited was Calcutta. It is such a cultural city that I gained many experiences there... maine pehli baar museum Calcutta mein dekha, as well as Durga Puja. It is not just my sasurbaari for me! (Laughs)
I am excited to be there in Calcutta with the play because the audience is extremely receptive and evolved there. They consistently watch theatre and appreciate it too. Main hopeful hoon ki badhiya audience milegi. After appearing on screen for so long, I am looking forward to interacting live with the audience.
The play has an entire mix — 15-16 songs, comedy, drama.... The musical team is very strong in this play. We have a combination of musicians and singer-actors.
Was the idea to always make a musical?
Yes. We didn’t want to do experimental theatre... we wanted to come up with something in which the audience gets to experience entertainment, music, live interactions.... The subject is of women’s liberation, but the audience will see it in the form of a mazedaar kahaani. The play has things to say but we haven’t let intellect overpower its entertainment quotient.
We all have problems in our lives. Why should we take out three hours from our lives and go to watch something which only talks about problems? (Laughs) Toh mera message hain: “Aao, enjoy karo, aur jaate jaate aapko usmein kuch pointers bhi mil jayenge”. There is seriousness in its subtext, but it is an entertaining piece of art.
What spurred your return to stage after 12 years?
Theatre has given me everything in life, especially in the initial years. My wife and I used to discuss how can we give back to theatre in our own way. So we formed a group comprising those who hail from theatre, have now come to Mumbai and are somewhat struggling. We wanted to provide a platform to them, both in terms of opportunity and remuneration.
They are all talented actors from all corners of India. They are working in films in Mumbai, but they are essentially theatre talents. That is what we have created a double cast for the play — whoever is busy with other commitments can step back and another actor can take their place.
La-Ilaaj, therefore, stemmed from the idea to pay back to theatre. I struggled a lot when I came to Mumbai and my endeavour is to help minimise the struggles of those like me who have come after me. It also gives them exposure, and for an artiste, the biggest form of oxygen is stage or set. I feel happy when I see my actors smiling on stage. We have also become like a family... my wife cooks for them and everyone sits together and eats.
I wanted to do something because the question at the back of my mind always was: “Successful ho gaye hain, ab meaningful kaise honge?” I work on screen — in films and OTT — but I wanted to create a form of art which takes people away from screen fatigue. That is how La-Ilaaj was born.
I feature in a cameo in the play, and my presence adds some energy to the stage. I was not present in the first seven shows, but then I started appearing in the climax in a very humorous situation.
Did you get a platform like this during your days of struggle?
I didn’t get that in Mumbai because I didn’t do theatre in this city. My leap was straight to screen in Mumbai and that came via a lot of slow, painstaking auditions. The training of my craft has happened in Delhi and Patna, but I didn’t have a direct ladder to cinema.
A big highlight of La-Ilaaj is that your daughter Aashi is acting in it...
Yes. She had done two plays in boarding school and that is how she got interested in performing on stage. Usko stage se lagaav ho gaya hai. Once she came back to Mumbai, she started doing plays with various theatre groups. She is slowly but surely gaining confidence on stage, given that we have already staged 15 shows of La-Ilaaj. Apart from that, she has done 12-15 shows of other plays. Growth dikh raha hain.
Anything about her as a performer that has taken you by surprise?
Her calmness while performing. I have told her that when I started out, I wasn’t as relaxed as she is as an actor. It took me two years to become as calm. The way she is on stage is very necessary for a good performance.
Is La-Ilaaj the start of much more stage work for you?
Yes. Within the next one year, the aim is to star in a full-fledged role on stage. I want to do two-three films and a theatre production parallely. Performing on stage is a different kind of blessing for an actor. That is my first love. I want to keep exploring myself as an actor, and stage is the best medium to do so. Theatre gives an actor far wider scope than cinema does. Now it is no longer about survival for me. Ab sur badal ke dekhna hain.
Has this new focus propelled the decision to cut down on your film assignments?
I am no longer doing films back-to-back. I have become very selective about the subjects I choose for my films. I will only do a script if it really excites me as an actor. An actor has limited arrows in his armour... one can’t afford to fire six-seven arrows of the same nature within a year. Thoda soch ke, samajh ke, critical hoke kaam karna chahta hoon.
Mirzapur: The Film, releasing in September, has us excited. How different was shooting the film compared to the series?
The canvas has become much larger, the players are more. The excitement and anticipation is, of course, huge. Otherwise, the experience for me was more or less the same.
You have been the face and the champion of mid-budget cinema, in theatres and on OTT, for many years. How do you react to the growing claim that mid-budget cinema no longer has takers on the big screen?
I don’t think so. I am confident that in the next few months, a mid-budget film will arrive and do well and surprise everyone, and the narrative will change again. I think jumping to conclusions happens very easily, but many films have disproved this narrative. I am sure they will do so in future as well.