A versatile actor, director and a playwright Danish Iqbal has different and unique views about the changing industry of theatres. Recently, Danish was here in the city for his theatrical presentation ‘Qaid-e-Hayyat’ on Sunday at Antrang Hall, Bharat Bhavan.
In a small rendezvous with The Pioneer, Danish shared his journey into theatres and his face off with the classics of the theatre world. Being known for his flexibility Danish has an optimistic approach towards the traditions and cultures of the theaters. He further talks about his connection with the audience and his performances. “I believe that every artist face challenges in some way of the other. Being a theatre artist and a director I feel that what most important is for a theatre artiste is to create a connectivity between the actor and the audience. It is pretty obvious that each artist work for the audience,” he added smilingly.
Danish is a PG Diploma holder in acting from National School of Drama in 2002, and then pursued an MA in Classical Acting from Central School of Speech and Drama, london 2005. He has been working in NSD as a visiting Faculty for last two years. As an actor he has performed in more than 200 plays. He has travelled with his performances almost all over India and abroad as well. He has worked under the most eminent theatre and film personalities of India, as well as abroad.
Talking about his recent play that was staged before the Bhopalites, Danish says, “This play is about Mirza Ghalib, a noted Urdu poet of the 19th century and we have presented the struggles of a poet in his personal and professional life.”
Notably, Danish played the character of Mirza Ghalib in the play and talking about the character Danish said, “Though Ghalib’s writings are difficult to understand but he was an innocent human being, he was not into politics not even in some other issues. He had no lust for luxuries or any extravaganza; rather he only loved and craved for love. After reading and researching about Ghalib I reached to this point and as an actor I try my level best to portray him as best as I can. Even to the youngsters,” he added.
Elaborating further about the love of Ghalib’s era, he says, “Well, that eternity and purity does not exist anymore in today’s time. During Ghalib’s era distances increased the love for each other but today, mostly couple break up and find a new one.” On asking about his performance in the city of lakes, Danish said, “People here are very much welcoming and it is a pleasure to perform before such audience who are educated and who understand the art better.” This was his second performance at Bharat Bhavan, he added.
Danish wonderfully combines in himself various roles of a performer, teacher, writer, researcher, cultural organizer, arts administrator and media person and to all of which he brings exacting standards and this is what his forte is.