‘I always take time out for theatre’
Theatre ka apna nasha hai,” says veteran actor Avtar Gill, in response to why he continues to do theatre, despite little financial rewards and the monumental effort and focus it demands from an artist, in comparison to cinema.
The veteran actor, who was in the Capital for a play Wo Lahore — set in the times of partition. Gill, who made a special appearance in the play, considers theatre as a labour of love that has its own creative satisfaction.
“I have been doing theatre since college, and no matter how occupied I am with films and TV, I manage to take time out for theatre,” says the actor.
“In my 38-year career, I’ve done plays in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Marathi, and have performed all over the world,” the 62year-old says, adding that the live response one gets after a show, makes theatre far more enriching than TV or films.
Apart from theatre, the veteran actor has had a long association with the Capital, too. “Delhi is my love. I’ve been coming here for over 30 years, for film shoots and theatre. I also played a role in a Ramlila at the Red Fort,” he says.
The actor also loves the city’s food culture. “Delhi ke khane ki baat hi alag hai. Yahan ke gulab jamun, gajar ka halwa, makai ki roti.. sab kuch. The city is cleaner than Mumbai, but has a lot of traffic chaos, a problem common to most metros,” he signs off.