‘ICECREAM BETTER AT INDIA GATE’

Dancer and actor Mukti Mohan has fond childhood memories of Delhi, says theatre happened by chance

It was theatre by chance for dancer and actor Mukti Mohan. Born and brought up in Delhi, she moved to Rajasthan for her higher education. So when she was recently in the Capital for a performance, she couldn’t stop thinking about her growing up years in the city. “I was really young when I moved to Pilani and spent nine years in hostel. I used to visit Delhi during my summer and winter holidays. It was so much fun, a complete family time. We would visit different places for lunch. Icecream tasted a little better at India Gate.

I have lots of sweet memories of Delhi,” she says.

Mukti, who was recently in the Capital for a theatrical performance titled One Night Only, at OddBird Theatre, says she was introduced to theatre about three years back. “I went to a theatrical workshop in Mumbai without any intentions of joining it. It just happened or should I say, it is what destiny wants. They were looking for an artist and I was intrigued by the character. I auditioned and got selected. I enjoyed the role and have been rolling since then,” she laughs.

Theatre has been a lifechanging experience for her, and has brought a remarkable change in her personality.

Mukti adds, “I’m evolving as a better person and all thanks to theatre. I know how body language plays its role and can be hurtful in the process of communication. Theatre has made me more careful. I also try to look things differently.”

For the play One Night Only, she portrayed the character of a transgender —a role for which she trained in voice and body language. She says, “I met a transgender and she spoke extensively about her life, right from childhood. I heard her story and tried to incorporate it in my role. That is the beauty of theatre, it projects the real side of the story.”

I joined a Mumbai college, my sister (singer Neeti Mohan) is a Delhi University graduate. Her stories from college were so cool; I was jealous. She had tales of cholakulche vala from (North) campus and I was like, DU is amazing!

MUKTI MOHAN DANCERACTOR

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/MUKTIMOHAN