Bollywood beginners remembers their first baby-step.

On the occasion of World Theatre Day today, these talented actors share the lessons learnt on stage!

Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi, Isha Talwar, Ali Fazal and Shweta Tripathi recounts their theatre days and views on how it helped them to evolve as a better actor

A theatre is the baby-step to the world of acting and who could forget this day, either you are an actor or an audience. Theatre marks an important venue for every one, not only for actors but this very day is also  more important to audience as they get an opportunity of wishing their stage idols, stage icons and other movie icons who have put their immense faith in building a fledgling career to illuminate the screen with talent gained through stage and street plays.

On this day, people on social media are not only extending their wishes and gratitude to the artists, but many are also sharing pictures of their favourite theatre groups. While one wrote, “#WorldTheatreDay theatre was created, to tell the truth about life,” another wrote, “A stage play ought to be the point of intersection between the visible and invisible world.” , more enthusiast was keen to give the realm of the entire audience scenario.

 “The Play's the Thing, wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King,” said William Shakespeare, world's legendary playwright during Hamlet. We might be in the globally assumed 21st Century, but this statement (verified as the moments of experiential truth) still stands true. Ask any theatre aficionado, enthusiast or artist and they’ll agree that only in theatre do you see the emotion in real time and the feel of vicarious moments. Bollywood has seen a steady stream of theatre actors make their way onto celluloid and spread their gold dust on cinema screens, some are still beginners, some have achieved few successes but major hit is still far-fetched, some are still strugglers but theatre at any point in time has been their first love and from here they have learnt their baby-steps. World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute ITI. The first World Theatre Day Message was written by Jean Cocteau in 1962. Ever since its celebrated all over the world on 27th March. On the occasion of World Theatre Day today, these talented beginners from the realm of varied Bollywood actors share the lessons learnt on stage!

Pankaj Tripathi: “Theatre is my beginning. Even after doing films for over a decade, there is a connection to the stage that will never go away. Apart from acting on stage, I have also done a lot of street theatre back in Bihar. It was that experience that truly taught me how to connect with the common man. My biggest take away any lesson from theatre, especially at NSD, was to always dive into a role and to take on a role that scared me. That is something I try and follow even now. If while reading a script, I get nervous, I will always say yes to the role. Theatre pushes everyone out of their comfort zone and theatre sirf actor nahi banata, aadmi banata hai.”

Richa Chadha: “Theatre is the actors medium. From theatre, I learnt teamwork, discipline and the benefits of the practice. My theatre teachers Barry John and Saurabh Sachdeva taught me to think on my feet.  The theatre is a privilege and an art form by itself and shouldn’t be viewed as a stepping stone into movies. There’s no high like that of being on stage.”

Ali Fazal: “The art of manoeuvring through life in a measured room. Happy and proud as always to have begun my journeys on stage. All began with me joining a school play trying to woo a girl. Changed my life. I found the audience. An actor’s first love. Theatre has always had hardships in all regions of the world and yet been part of history. I am part of it. Hope actors take inspiration and promote more stage work. No matter what u say, it is what it is. It is the shrine."

Shweta Tripathi: “Rehearsal is key. You have to be prepared because you get that one chance to show what you have, feel. And I take that forward in the film as well. Even though there are retakes, but every take should be your best. “

Isha Talwar: “Theatre keeps you rooted. It’s a place where you say your lines 500 times in rehearsals but can still keep room for spontaneity and improvisation on performance day and that makes one very sharp and gives a lot of room for experimenting, in general.”

Tweet from Actor Hemu Shetty

On the account of the same, Actor Hemu Shetty  remembers his initial days, getting inspired and liking to be an actor through streetplays and street-acting feels little different, as actors are not only the lovers of stage, infact its the boost and love from the millions-of-fans and idol-worshippers across the world that generate this adualtion-led-inspiration for an actor to evolve from a vacuum to a perform on a canvas thats been built-from-the heart-base of countless icon-builders, conveying the same, he tweeted " Perennially is a #WorldTheatreDay for the #Stakeholders of #Fans, #Audiences, #Performer's and #Global #Icons | #Stagelovers of all ilks and genre's wishing you a heartiest #WorldTheatreMoments | #PR | #PRECP."