No, theatre actors in Delhi aren’t all about jholas, kurtas, chai and cigarettes. Eight professionals undo the misconceptions associated with the theatre scene in Delhi.
BAD ADDICTION
Saheb Kaur, 21
I don’t drink, smoke or do drugs, and guess what? I do theatre! Why on earth do we thespians have to be singled out?
Manisha Batra, 32
If it’s not smoking or drinking, people associate us with being addicted to
chai aur khana
. And this allegation on us is only an effort to keep the list of stereotypes associated with theatre artists going strong.
GEEKY APPEARANCE
Satnam Gill, 37
First of all, people look at me and say — you are into theatre, why don’t you have long hair? And secondly, because I have a stubble, they conveniently quip — Oh! Having a beard goes well with your profession!
GEEKY APPEARANCE
Satnam Gill, 37
First of all, people look at me and say — you are into theatre, why don’t you have long hair? And secondly, because I have a stubble, they conveniently quip — Oh! Having a beard goes well with your profession!
Vivek Sharma, 22
I don’t wear a kurta and don’t carry a jhola. It is not just people outside my family, my parents also tease me for not looking like a typical theatre actor. I wear what everyone else does, tees and jeans.
IMPRACTICAL AND UNSOCIAL
Tarun Das, 62
People think that theatre professionals are impractical, dreamers, who are lost in their own world; and unacceptable in society. But all that is nothing more than a nice-sounding fairy tale.
Priyanka Sharma, 27
I am as practical as any average Joe. One should not single out our profession with such strong beliefs.
POOR CAREER OPTION
Ankita Anand, 28
It is just oversimplifying if one says that being a dramatist on stage is an ordinary career option. It is about being good at what you do, and then there are multiple probabilities for work. And that, by the way, holds true for any profession. Why single out theatre?
Digamber Prasad, 42
Corporate culture has come into theatre. New things are happening, be it on the front of satires, or musicals. The money in these genres is also good.