Action Replay

While actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi have been regulars on stage throughout their film careers,the new film star-turned-theatre actors arrived on stage long after their heyday in films. So,is the stage becoming an option for out-of-work actors who’ve crossed their sell-by date? “I have two films lined up for release — Mera Bachpan with Helen and Daughter with Ayub Khan,” retorts Kolhapure while Dhillon adds: “Out of work actors won’t get even a role in theatre.” Kapoor,on his part,promptly lists nine films that he’s working on,including Chatur Singh Two Star with Sanjay Dutt and Mr Bhatti on Chhutti with Anupam Kher.

The actors agree that they discovered theatre late but they intend to stay with it. “After 700 films,I am soaking in the intoxication of theatre,” says Kapoor,in between rehearsals. They learnt stagecraft in which “voice modulation,body language and emotive skills have to be much louder and exaggerated than in films,” says Kolhapure. “There are also pages and pages of dialogue to memorise.” On a visit to Malaysia for an awards ceremony,Kolhapure spent her time on the beach memorising her lines for a play,Kapoor,on the other hand,made his daughter,actor Shraddha Kapoor,rehearse with him until he had learnt every word and action.

Dhillon stays with light,frothy comedy — Perfect Husband was followed by Perfect Wife (whose story she had conceptualised) and her latest Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi,which opened a few weeks ago,is a romantic drama about two individuals of a mature age. “My character is of an age when she is not rigid,” she says.

Aasmaan Se Girey…,too,is a pure entertainer with songs,dances and one-liners while Saath Rahega… is a family drama in which Kolhapure plays a mother-in-law. “I am looking beyond glam roles. I don’t want a fan following just for being a pretty face,” she says.