Some of the impressive personalities we have met so far through various PHOTO JOURNEYs in last 5 years - PART3

After two interesting posts on various personalities from Photography Industry and Bollywood, today we are going to share some popular faces of Indian Theatre. Let's check out this Photo Journey and know more about Indian Theatre...

The very first photograph of this Photo Journey shows Ranjit Kapoor during one of his play being showed in National School of Drama. Anybody who likes theatre, knows Ranjit Kapoor.. Ranjit is the director of well-known plays such as Hum Rahe Na Hum, Woyzech and Sher Afghan. Also a respected dialogue writer in films (Khamosh, Bandit Queen, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro to name just three), the 63-year-old Sangeet Natak Akademi winner now works as a freelance director across the country. His play 'Chekov Ki Duniya' was performed at the summer theatre festival in the Delhi this year. The play is based on six short stories by the master Russian writer. I have seen many of his directed plays at National School of Drama in Delhi.

Uttra Baokar presenting a token to International performers at 14th Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2012. Uttara Baokar is an Indian stage actor, who also acts in both on films and television. An alumna of National School of Drama, she remained lead actress with the NSD Repertory Company in the 1970s and '80s, a period which saw the revival of Hindi theatre in Delhi, before moving to television and films in late 1980s.

 

Uttara Baokar won the 1989 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Mrinal Sen's film Ek Din Achanak. On television, she is most known for the role of Jassi's Bebe in the TV series Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (2003–2006)... She is quite a familiar face in Indian Theatre and Delhite keep her seeing in various shows. 

Nafisa Ali presenting gifts to school kids in Delhi. It was a Adobe Youth Voice program, where Nafisa was main guest to start a new year of this program for kids.

Nafisa Ali was born to photographer, Ahmed Ali, son of S. Wajid Ali and brother of Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah. She hails from Faridabad, Haryana. Her mother's name is Philomena Torresan, who is now settled in Australia. Her brother is the Australia-based motor rallyist, Niaz Ali. She went to Sr. Cambridge from La Martiniere Calcutta. She has also studied Vedanta taught by Swami Chinmayananda, who started the center Chinmaya Mission of World Understanding.

Her husband is the renowned Polo player and Arjuna awardee, retired Col R.S. Sodhi. After marriage she chose to be a wife and take care of her three children: daughters Armana, Pia and son Ajit. After a break of 18 years she returned to the film industry.

Here is one of the my own picks from National School of Drama Repertory Company. He is Sunil Upadhyay, one of the most talented actor in Delhi. Now he has left NSD Repertory and working on some projects in Bombay. We wish him all the best for future !

Here is another star actor for me, Naveen Thakur. I have watched many of his plays in Delhi and never miss his productions.

Mr. Zakir Husain who is quite popular face in Bollywood now. Zakir is more popularly seen in negative roles. As an active actor on stage since 1982, Zakir Husain has worked with eminent directors like Barry John, Bm Shah, Prasanna, Mohan Maharishi and Anamika Haksar. He has emerged as a major actor on screen with crucial roles in notable films like 'Not a love story', 'Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani', 'Sarkar'. A graduate in political science, he joined SRC Repertory in 1988. As a student at NSD and then as a member of its repretory he has acted in many a significant plays like 'Toba Tek Singh', 'Karmavali',  and 'Einstien'. He has acted as Sanjay in Ramgopal Bajaj's Andha Yug in 1993.

Gandhari (Uttra Baokar), Dhritrashtra (Mohan Maharishi) and Vidur (Ravi Khanwilkar) !!! This Photograph is from Andha Yug, which was showcased in Delhi at Firoz Shah Kotla Fort. 

Mohan Maharishi has lived a life devoted to theatre. An acknowledged great, hisversatility and genius has included acting, direction, design, translation, playwriting and theatre productions. One of the earliest graduate from the National School of Drama, he went on to helm the institution in 1980s. He has nurtured many institutions as an academic and mentor. In recognition of his services to theatre, he was honored with Sangeet Natak Adademi Award in 1992. From Indian Classics to Greek Tragedies, from Sakespeare's mastrepieces to Modern Indian and International literature his oeuvre has transcended genres. Having acted as Sanjaya in the Andha Yug production in 1973, he played Dhritrashtra in 2011.

Amitabha is another theatre actor who can be seen in many of the bollywood movies now. He can be seen around NSD campus in Delhi. Amitabha is an economist by training, who took a major step in his career to emerge as a talented graduate out of NSD. A multifaceted personality, he has been acting since 1971. On Stage in over 100 plays he has acted for many eminent directors. Khamosh Adalat Jari hai, Waiting for godot, Mukhyamantri, Ashadh ka ek din, tughlaq, and mahabhoj are some classics he has acted in...

Mr. Kuldeep Sareen ...Kuldeep has been active in theatre for over fiteen years now. An actor with NSD Repretory for five years, he has made breakthroughs in screen recently. Don, Black, Striker and Karzz are some of the his major films. He has also acted in TV serials like - kumkum and Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya hi Kijo.

M. K. Raina, one of the renowned Theatre Director with many of the eminent actors at Firoz Shah Kotla.

Mr. Manishakar Ayer presenting flowers to main cast of 'Andha Yug' standing in front of thousands of audiences in Delhi...

Amitabha and Kuldeep ...