Naveen Bawa as Bachcha and Padmini Kolhapure as Mithai in the play

Widow marriage was legalised in India in 1856. But even today, many in India do not approve of a woman remarrying again after her husband’s death. These people could be any of us, he or she, here or there...
Naveen Bawa’s Baap Ka Baap, an Ek Prayaas production, is a satire on such “regressive social attitude when it comes to widow marriage”. The play was staged at Science City Auditorium as part of the 14th Vodafone Odeon Theatre Festival, partnered by t2.

Bawa, Asrani, Padmini Kolhapure and Chitrashi Rawat made sure the message came coated in a healthy dose of laughter.

“Age is a matter of the mind. If you don’t mind it, it does not matter!” said Asrani as the vibrant Jawan who drew the loudest applause

In the play, Bachcha (Naveen Bawa) plans to propose to Mithai, a widow, while his father Jawan (Asrani) falls in love with Namkeen, an NRI. But their plans are paused, as a debate begins over the moral obligations of the relationships. Voice-overs by Alka Yagnik, Shatrughan Sinha and Shakti Kapoor add to the play’s charm.

Remember Komal Chautala, the tomboyish Haryanvi hockey player in Chak De! India? That’s Chitrashi Rawat, whom t2 caught up with a few hours before she made her first appearance on the Calcutta stage at Vodafone Odeon Theatre Festival...

After films and television, was theatre a natural choice?
Oh yes, this is my first play. I started with films, did a few TV stuff and then I thought I should do what I have always wanted to do but never got a chance — theatre. I am loving it as I get to travel and work at the same time. Performing live on stage in front of so many people is exciting. 

Tell us about your role in Baap Ka Baap... 
It’s a comedy where my character is that of an NRI who comes to India. She is really funny, very chirpy and crazy. Her name is Namkeen and she is absolutely namkeen. The best thing about her is that she is romancing this 60-year-old guy but at the same time she is very sensible. 

How does it feel to work with Asrani and Padmini Kolhapure?
It’s amazing to work with them. Padminiji and Asraniji are huge stars of their time and there is so much to learn from them. Being on stage with them is an absolute honour. They are so humble and so professional!

What about television?
I would love to work in television. But then, I need to get something really good, something different and not the typical saas-bahu drama. I don’t think I am made for that.

Any film you are working on?
I have two films under production — Black Home, a social thriller by Ashish Deo, and Dimaag Ka Dahi, a comedy by Fauzia Arshi. The former is a very serious and dark film based on the lives of girls in juvenile homes. I was more comfortable doing Dimaag Ka Dahi. Black Home was really taxing for me, physically and mentally. I had lots of stunts to perform. To go through what girls go through in juvenile homes is really difficult and god forbid, I don’t want to experience that again. I was doing it for a good cause, but then in the process of doing that film, I got affected by it.

Your fave theatre personalities?
I haven’t seen many plays. I feel Vinay Pathak and Rajat Kapoor are brilliant on stage.

Actors you dream to work with?
I would love to work with Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan.

Your fave directors?
There are so many! Raju Hirani, Om Prakash Mehra, Anurag Kashyap... it would be unfair to take the names of a few of them. I want to work with all of them.

Do you still play hockey?
I don’t practise every day. But I do play hockey whenever I get time. I am totally into acting now.

After Chak De! India you haven’t done any other sports-centric roles...
I did get a few scripts but they never turned out to be that good. But I would love to do a sports film. I know that’s where I excel. I can play any sport.

All the plays in this year’s Odeon were amazing. I am really, really happy. See the crowd, I am just amazed!
— Anisha Sahay, homemaker

I loved the way our relationships are depicted. Baap Ka Baap showed the critical role a parent plays in our lives — Tanayesh Talukdar, marketing professional

I loved the way Bachcha and Mithai were speaking in sher-shayari. Their wordplay was comical and the comic timing was perfect — Gitanjali Alagh Jolly, event manager

I was watching Padmini Kolhapure. She looked the same as she did 20 years back! And Naveen Bawa was brilliant — Kishore Kumar Gupta, vice-chairman, anti-corruption cell, International Human Rights Association

Sibendu Das
Pictures: Chanchal Ghosh