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‘Delhi has had a culture of theatre...
... but Gurgaon’s audience, too, is enthusiastic about plays,’ says actor-director Rajat Kapoor
I grew up in Delhi... Of course, now I’ve been away for a long time, but every time I come back, I’m awestruck by the beauty of the city
RAJAT KAPOOR, ACTOR-FILMMAKER
Rajat Kapoor moved from Delhi to Mumbai almost three decades ago, but the film and theatre actor hasn’t been able to bid adieu to the charm that the Capital exudes.
“I grew up in Delhi. I didn’t move out till I was 25. Of course, now I’ve been away for a long time, but I have immense nostalgia for the city. Every time I come back, I’m awestruck by its beauty. The trees are to die for,” he says.
Kapoor, whose adaptations — Macbeth, Hamlet, and Nothing Like Lear — were being staged in Delhi, also visited Gurgaon last weekend for the screening of his film, Ankhon Dekhi (2013).
Asked why the theatre scene in the Millennium City is lagging behind, he says that presence of cultural institutes plays a huge role in bringing culture activities to a city.
“Delhi has had a huge culture of theatre. This might have something to do with the presence of National School of Drama (NSD) in the city. Plus, at many theatre festivals here, the audience is treated to plays in all Indian languages — a luxury denied to most other cities in the country. As for Gurgaon, Epicentre (popular cultural center) did something for theatre, but sadly it isn’t there anymore. But, there’s a big enthusiastic theatre audience in Gurgaon, and that’s why we are invited with our shows to private clubs there. May this culture of alternative space flourish,” he says.
Having also directed films such as Raghu Romeo (2003), Mithya (2008) and Ankhon Dekhi (2014), Kapoor is taking the route of crowdfunding for his upcoming movie, RK/RKay. It is about a filmmaker named RK, who is directing a new film and starring in it.
“If you’re trying to do something that’s not exactly mainstream, it’s never going to be easy to get funds for that film. So, an alternative route must be found. We are looking to raise an ambitious `2.5 crore. How about 50,000 people giving just 500 rupees each? That should be achievable... The film is mad, whacky and lot of fun.”
How do stories come to his mind? What inspires him, we asked. “Stories do not come to you, if you aren’t chasing them. One has to keep working at an idea, something that tickles your imagination. And then you get an inkling... The rest of the work is of chiseling and giving things form,” says Kapoor.