Delhi-based theatre actress Rachaittri Gupta will play the female lead in the stage adaptation of Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi’s Bollywood drama Hamari Adhuri Kahani.
The film’s theatre version stars Imran Zahid as the male lead Aarav, a rich and suave hotelier, who falls in love with married florist, Vasudha — the role for which Gupta has been cast.
The movie and the play are based on the novel All That Could Have Been, co-written by veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and Suhrita Sengupta.
Talking about zeroing in on Gupta for Vasudha’s part, Bhatt said: “When I started writing Hamari Adhuri Kahani, I wanted to plough through my childhood of having seen my mother fight the battles of single motherhood. Vasudha was built from that space and yet she flowers into a beloved in her matured years in the story.
“So finding a face for this character was crucial. Rachaittri will be able to bring to life all over again Vasudha on stage, of that I am confident.”
Sengupta agrees Gupta is the perfect fit for the role.
“The character of Vasudha is an extremely deep and inspiring one. It took me tonnes of work to characterise her and bring her to the climax of the book as well as the film. When it was confirmed that Rachaittri is going to be Vasudha on stage, I was completely satisfied as her face emanates the depth we require,” Sengupta said.
Gupta is nervous as well as excited about the part and says she doesn’t want to let anyone down.
“I have done a lot of plays, but this one is quite different. Firstly, this is a Mahesh Bhatt production, the script is also Mahesh sir’s, so I can’t [let] him down. Secondly, the character I’m playing, was played by Vidya Balan, who has been my inspiration for quite some time.
“Thirdly, the character of Vasudha itself is very challenging. I’m really nervous and excited at the same time. But I will try my level best to not let anyone down,” she said.
Actor-director Happy Ranajit, who will direct the play, says Gupta, who is currently playing the second lead in Bollywood musical Zangoora at Gurgaon-based live entertainment destination Kingdom of Dreams, is the perfect blend of glamour and talent.
“I was under pressure about the casting for the role of Vasudha and finally I selected Rachaittri as I had seen her in Kingdom of Dreams in the role of Lachhi. I liked her acting and I think she is a blend of glamour and talent, who can do justice to such a complex character and to the play,” Ranajit said.
The play will reportedly be staged in Delhi before heading to Karachi.
