On the occasion of World Theatre Day, which is observed on March 27, actor Mahir Pandhi, who has been a part of projects like Vanshaj, Choti Sarrdaarni, and Congrats My Ex and is currently seen essaying the role of vanar-brothers Baali and Sugreev in the new Sony SAB show Veer Hanuman, feels that it’s extremely important to keep theatre, art, writing, and interaction alive because acting is a deeply personal art form.
He said, “With the rise of OTT platforms and evolving viewing habits, people now have the liberty to watch content whenever they want. Earlier, when films were thriving before OTT, audiences had to wait for releases and visit theatres to watch movies. Similarly, with theatre, you have to go to the venue, wait for the show, and experience it live.”
“Only then do you truly appreciate the effort that goes into it. Unfortunately, this appreciation has faded over time,” he added.
Mahir started his acting journey with theatre, then moved on to street plays, and eventually joined AIR as a Bal Natya Kalakar. He said, “After that, I did some work for Doordarshan. Theatre has always been a part of my life.”
He feels that live performances and today’s digital world are completely opposite and added, “While theatre involves direct engagement with the audience, acting for the camera is highly technical and vastly different from stage performances.”
However, he doesn’t agree that theatre has played an important role in shaping the industry. He said, “If it had, we wouldn’t see the current situation of theatre artists as it is today. The industry today operates as a business model, whereas theatre remains theatre. Theatre requires months of practice, which is completely different from the preparation that goes into television.”
What about budget constraints? “There is no comparison when it comes to budgets. Theatre still exists purely due to the passion of its people. Many who start their acting careers in theatre find it an easier way to learn the craft. Even for established actors, performing in front of the camera is a tough job as acting in front of the camera is different. People who do theatre pursue it out of passion rather than money, whereas in other mediums, financial considerations play a major role, as theatre today doesn’t pay well. Theatre is a very intimate and in-person form of art,” Mahir concluded.
