Bollywood's finest who sharpened their craft on the theatre stage before making it big on the silver screen!
World Theatre Day, celebrated annually on March 27th, honors those who recognize the value and significance of the art form. Theatre is a distinctive medium that blends acting, storytelling, music, and visual design to create live performances that give audiences an outworldly experience. While cinema and film actors often enjoy widespread popularity, theatre is considered far more challenging. It refines an actor's craft to an exceptional level, making them truly unparalleled. Bollywood, too, has seen several actors who honed their skills on the stage before making a mark in the industry. Let’s take a look at some of them.
The legendary villain of Indian cinema, Amrish Puri, first nurtured his passion for acting by joining an amateur natak mandali (stage group). His troupe frequently performed at the Prithvi Theatre, staging plays written by Satyadev Dubey. Over time, Puri gained recognition as a formidable stage actor, eventually earning the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979. His success in theatre soon opened doors to television advertisements and, eventually, to films—making his name at the relatively late age of 40.
Naseeruddin Shah, the founder and creative director of the Motley Theatre Group, has been a driving force in the theatre world for over four decades. As an actor, director, and producer, he has brought to life numerous plays, including ‘Waiting for Godot,’ ‘The Lesson,’ ‘Julius Caesar,’ ‘Dear Liar,’ and many others. Unlike many film actors who rarely return to the stage after finding success in cinema, Naseer views theatre as a way to recharge and rediscover himself.
With a career spanning over four decades and more than 540 films, Anupam Kher's journey began long before his big-screen debut. Though he first appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's 1984 drama ‘Saaransh,’ Kher's association with theatre started much earlier. He studied Indian theatre at Panjab University, Chandigarh, before graduating from the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi in 1978. During his early years, he performed in plays at Himachal Pradesh University. Kher also shared his expertise by teaching drama at Raj Bisaria's Bharatendu Natya Akademi in Lucknow, even taking on a small role in his directorial debut film, ‘Sheeshay ka Ghar.’
Paresh Rawal, a celebrated Bollywood actor, began his journey as a theatre artist in 1972, considering the stage his “lifeline” for shaping his skills and career. He performed at Prithvi Theatre, starring in several productions, including the popular Gujarati play ‘Khelaiya,’ alongside other prominent theatre artists. Even after gaining fame in films, Rawal returned to the stage, finding continued success with plays like ‘Dear Father.’ His 2011 play ‘Kishan V/S Kanhaiya’ remains hugely popular to this day, with performances held around the world.
Amol Palekar began his journey in Marathi experimental theatre with Satyadev Dubey before founding his own theatre group, Aniket, in 1972. As a stage actor, he starred in acclaimed plays such as ‘Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe,’ ‘Hayavadana,’ and ‘Adhe Adhure.’ Since 1967, Palekar has been a prominent figure in avant-garde theatre in India, contributing as an actor, director, and producer in both Marathi and Hindi productions. However, his remarkable influence on modern Indian theatre is often overshadowed by his popularity as a lead actor in Hindi films. After a stage performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in 1994, Palekar returned to theatre after a 25-year hiatus with the gripping suspense play, ‘Kusur.’
