Kalia from Sholay was in the city recently, along with Anupama from Doli Saja Ke and several other telly actors from Mumbai. The national premiere of Wife Time Trouble, a comic play was staged as part of Madras West Round Table 10’s fundraising programme for TANKER foundation. Barkha Bisht, Viju Khote, Ashiesh Roy, Mamta Dutta and Karan Mehra, along with the play’s director Janak Toprani rehearsed for the show as they looked forward to the response from the Chennai audience. “I’ve performed here before and I’ve warned the cast that the audience in the city cannot suffer fools. I find the people in Chennai extremely discerning and intelligent,” says actor Ashiesh Roy, who plays the lead in the play, which talks of marriage and how to make it work.
The actors are relaxed after a night of partying, and are all looking forward to visiting places in the city and also eating some south Indian food. Barkha Bisht, who has participated in many dance reality shows, and also serials like Doli Saja Ke and Kasauti Zindagi Key says, “This is my theatre debut, and I’m very excited and nervous. I hope the audience likes it.” Ask her if she has any plans to enter Kollywood and pat comes the reply. “I’ve been considering entering films here, but then I’ve been told I’m too thin for it. I need to put on some weight first,” she laughs.
The cast and crew seem very pleased with the hospitality in the city. Viju Khote, who famously played Kalia in the blockbuster film Sholay says he’s been to the city numerous times in the past, and if the weather permits, he’d like to go around and see some temples. “But before that, we need to give a good show here. I have butterflies in my stomach and I’m hoping the play goes well,” he remarks. His co-star Mamta, who plays the role of Tina in the play agrees. She says, “I’m going to put my best foot forward and hope that people enjoy it.” This is Mamta’s first ‘commercial’ play. “In the past, I’ve done plays where I’ve had to invest my own money, but this is the first time I’m getting any kind of monetary returns for acting in a play. I’m happy it’s happening here in Chennai.”
“The play is about real life and has been inspired by my own marriage,” laughs director Janak Toprani. “On a more serious note, I’ve seen the actors go through life in the one and a half months that we have rehearsed, and even those who aren’t married now have an idea of how to make their marriage work if it’s falling apart. It’s from a woman’s point of view, and I’ve used TV actors as more people can identify them quickly — owing to the recall value,” he says.