Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur) - Hindustan Times (Jaipur) - City
I know that theatres will bounce back: Anupam Kher
APctor Anupam Kher, through his much publicised speeches or books has always tried to spread positivity among people. This habit, he says, comes from the fact that he himself tries to stay optimistic throughout his life. He gave an account of this attempt through his recently released book Your Best Day is Today. The book that narrates his journey though the lockdown period also has inputs from various personalities with whom he interacted over the past few months. “It is always important to remain positive,” says the actor who recently finished shooting for his next film, Kashmir Files. he has also strived to strike a balance between films and his first love — the stage. The year 2020 was a bad one for many theatre practitioners. What does he make of the situation? “There is so much uncertainty, and there’s a fear. But at the same time, there is no substitute to theatre. At the end of the day, people need to feel comfortable. They need to feel safe,” says the actor. He adds, “One of the actresses with whom I work in New Amsterdam, she, does theatre as well. So, I had reached out to her and asked her how she views this situation. She, too, said that it is important for the audiences to come and experience the show live.” And as for films, the OTT platforms came as a saviour for a lot of productions. But Kher feels that the OTT vs theatres debate is needless. “Going to a cinema hall is and will always be an experience that’s unmatchable. I know that theatres will bounce back once people are comfortable. Till date, for many people, going to a theatre is an exciting prospect. It’s like a picnic for a lot of people. So, it’ll come back I’m sure,” he concludes.
so much There is and uncertainty, at the fear. But there’s a there is no same time, theatre. to substitute need to feel People just comfortable.
Navneet Vyasan