Vipul Shah returns to producing plays after fourteen long years

Vipul Shah is back on the floorboards after more than a decade. The producer-director of films like Namastey London, Singh Is Kinng and London Dreams is presenting the Hindi version of the critically acclaimed Marathi play Dhyanimani. It is slated to open on August 15.

His actress wife Shefali Shah is acting in the drama. She, too, returns to the theatre world after a long hiatus. Produced by Kaustubh Trivedi and directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni, a title for the Hindi version is still to be finalised.

Emotional connect
Says Vipul, "Fourteen years is a long time to be away from theatre but there was always an emotional connect. Shefali wanted to get back to theatre and I am glad that it is this production that marks our return to what we love."

Dhyanimani, a socio-psychological thriller, was first staged 15 years back. It delves upon the purpose of life and how reality is replaced by illusions. Penned by Prashant Dalvi, the original was also directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni.

Vipul, who began with Gujarati theatre, has based several of his films on Gujarati plays. His 2002 direction Aankhen was based on the Gujarati play Andhala Pato, while Waqt (2005) sought inspiration from Aavjo Vhala Fari Malishu. His latest production the Akshay Kumar-Aishwarya Rai starrer Action Replay is also based on his Gujarati play of the same name.