‘I wish one could go and see all the plays’

Known for TV shows like Hip Hip Hurray, Chai Pani Etc and Mansarover, Zafar Karachiwala is a known face among the viewers. But very few know that Zafar has been actively involved in the local theatre scene for around 15 years and still continues to be one of the prominent names in the theatre industry.

On his upcoming play, Good Mourning, that will be staged on September 14 at the Royal Opera House, the actor says, “I play Yogi, a happy-go-lucky, high-spirited fellow, who simply deals with the world by poking fun at it. Making people laugh gives him a high.”

The actor says that he is very particular about choosing his roles and says that he has to

connect with the script before playing a role. “I read a new script like a novel, a piece of fiction. If I look at it as a part to play, then I would automatically begin to have biases towards the characters and start to think about how I’d play them. If you keep reading the playwright’s words, the character builds itself,” says the actor.

Talking about the theatre scene in the city, the 32-yearold actor says, “It’s better than it has ever been. With so many lovely plays to choose from every weekend, I wish one could go and see all of them. And with new performing spaces opening up all over the city, it’s becoming more intimate, viable and prolific.”

When asked about his favourite part about being on stage, he says, “The audience of course!

They are the sole reason we actors do theatre. The live reaction and the instantaneous feedback are high like no other.”

With new performing spaces opening up in the city, it’s [the theatre scene] becoming more intimate and viable.

ZAFAR KARACHIWALA,

ACTOR