I grew up on the stage and I’m still in love with it, says Ira Dubey

Having grown up in green rooms, the actor shares that theatre would always be her first love. In a conversation, she reminiscences about her growing up years in Delhi and also talks about her favourite hangouts in the Capital.

“Theatre is always going to be my first love,” says actor Ira Dubey, who was part of a play, A Dolls House at a recently concluded theatre festival. She says, “What really attracted me to the part was, for a woman to walk out on her children is something. It was unheard of when it was written in the late 1800’s. The husband’s character is a typical, patriarchal. Her walking out on him and the metaphor was that she felt she lived in a dolls house.”

Actor Ira Dubey performed in the city recently as part of a classic play- A Doll’s House.

About her familiarity with the stage, Ira says she’s had a penchant for theatre ever since she was young. On whether she has always been drawn to classics, she says, “I like to experiment with everything. There are some classic roles one wouldn’t refuse. I grew up on stage. My mom’s sister had a theatre company called Kids World. All of us in our family, grew up acting at a very young age.” The actor’s theatrical work in India comprises plays like Womanly Voices, 30 Days in September, Wedding Album, Adhe Adhure & August: Osage County, The President is Coming, The Maids, among others.

The actor who moved to Mumbai when she was twelve cherishes the time growing up in Delhi. “I have a lot of associations from the city. My family, and grand parents are from here. Delhi has a lot of meaning for me. It’s always very special to come and perform here. Do I prefer Mumbai, yes. But since family is here, there are a lot of memories. Plus the audience is positive, very cultural and receptive.”

Among the places, she likes to splurge on clothes in the Capital are Emporio Mall, Sarojini Nagar, Santushti among others. “This time I went and did some damage at Emporio. I also enjoy going to Sarojini, picking up the flea market stuff, but not in the heat, in the right weather. A lot of Indian designers who have stand alone stores, I enjoy going to them.”