For Lillete Dubey, theatre was a passion that evolved into a profession. For daughter Ira Dubey, it's been a combination of nurture and nature.

`It's a blessing to find something that we both love and enjoy,` they say. The two are part of Adhe Adhure, a Hindi play that has crossed over 40 shows and sees them playing mother and daughter on stage as well. `It is my first Hindi play as a producer, director and as an actor and Ira's first Hindi play as an actor too,` says Lillete. The Dubeys talk to CS about life as theatrewallahs:

Feeling blessed
Ira: Mom used to take us to rehearsals. This is the world we have seen from a young age. Even my masi had a children's theatre company in Delhi and I have acted in some of her plays. So some of it is in the genes, while some is the talent you hone.

It's a combination. A case of nature and nurture. The decision to take up theatre professionally was a very conscious decision. I have studied theatre. And I think I'm blessed to find something that I love doing.

Lillete: I'm a firm believer that people who discover a passion for something are really blessed. You could be doing a lot of things but if you don't have the sense of elation or joy, then nothing makes sense. The joy is in the creation of something. And that's also how you excel at anything. You have to look forward to working everyday.

Seamless transitions
Ira: Working with mom is a very enriching experience. She's a very imaginative and talented director and has a knack for casting. She's director-mom and the boundaries are very clear.

On stage, she's the director and at home, she's mom. It's very seamless. When I joined her professionally, I assisted her on a play and what I enjoyed the most, was that I could give her my inputs not just as an assistant but also as a daughter.

Lillete: I love working with my daughters. But I have never taken any of them because they are my daughters. When I'm wearing the director's cap, I'm not wearing the mother's cap. If I cast any of them, it's because I have felt that they suit the role. Personally, I enjoy directing them and seeing them grow over the years.

Getting 'play'ful
Ira: I think mom's an incredible director. I've never seen any theatre personality like her. I would like to see her in something that really challenges her, maybe something that makes her go into a place that's really uncomfortable. Second, maybe a really good comedy.

Lillete: Ira is very strong emotionally and I think she has good intensity. She's a truthful actor. Ira has the potential for comedy but it's a bit unexplored at the moment. Moral of the story is we should both do a good comedy together! (laughs)