By Subhash K Jha

Stage plays are routinely adapted to screen. Rarely, if ever, are films adapted to the stage. It therefore comes as heartening news to hear that Mahesh Bhatt's highly influential 1984 film Arth would now be converted into a stage play by Bhatt's protegee Imran Zahid.

Imran earlier starred in The Last Salute a play written by Mahesh Bhatt based on the life of the Iraqi 'shoe-thrower' journalist Muntadhar-al-Zaidi.

Imran will not only direct the stage adaptation of Mahesh Bhatt's trendsetting marital drama about an abandoned housewife played by Shabana Azmi, her unfaithful husband Kulbhushan Kharbanda and his mistress Smita Patil. he will also plays Kharbanda's role in the stage adaptation.

Says Imran, `Arth is a classic. It raised the issue of gender equality way back in the 1980s. It looks at the issue of women's emancipation like no Indian dramatic work ever has. No one has been able to better what Arth highlighted in the world of movies or in theatre. I think21st century India needs to experience the theme of Arth through theatre. `

Imran Zahid feels Arth has a renewed relevance. `The issues with regards to our society that was raised in Arth are relevant in even in today's times. Theater has given me an entirely new outlet.

After staging two successful plays The Last Salute and Trial of Errors I think adapting such a piece of art into a theatrical adaptation will be a big challenge for me. But I think I am up to it. I also feel this medium will help in connecting the film's powerful theme with audience in an altogether different way. `

Confirming the stage version of his powerful marital drama Mahesh Bhatt says, `Imran Zahid heads this venture. I've given him a no -objections letter to do a stage adaptation of Arth. I will be the creative consultant. `