Imran Zahid will replay Kulbhushan Kharbanda's role in theatrical adaptation of Mahesh Bhatt's Arth. He tells Karan Bhardwaj that the subject is as relevant today as it was years ago
In 1982, Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth took the audience by storm by presenting the never-attempted subject of extra-marital relationship on screen. The film, which starred Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Smita Patil and Raj Kiran, ignited a new wave in the Indian film industry. Three decades later, Bhatt plans to relive Arth, not on screen but in theatre. The play will be staged in several cities in December.
“It is as relevant today as it was years ago. From a rickshaw wala in our country to American President, extra marital affair is a known reality for everybody. It is a human nature to get attracted towards somebody even after marriage,” says Imran Zahid, who will play the lead character in the play. “I am playing the role of Kulbhushan Kharbanda. To prepare myself, I have seen the film at least 10 times. I also dug out the old interviews he had given during the release of the movie. I was trying to understand what the situations and perceptions were like in those days. I am shocked to learn that nothing has changed. The play will talk about woman emancipation in the same manner as the film did,” he informs.
Zahid was also the lead cast in Bhatt’s previous dramas, The last Salute and Trial of Errors. “For a long time, we were thinking of some exciting concepts. In the last two plays, I had essayed roles of a journalist. So, I wanted a change,” he tells us. How did the idea come acrossIJ “Pakistani filmmaker Shaan wanted to make Arth. He had sought Bhatt sahab’s permission and that’s how it all began. Repeating a subject again on silver screen makes less sense now. People give lukewarm response to such serious cinema. We believed that theatre is a stronger platform for this subject. We are now working on the script and other details,” says Zahid, who also runs his media institute.
The 31-year-old tells us that the crew of the play will be women dominated. It will have women director and scriptwriter. Not much change is being done with the script but there will be “add-ons keeping in mind the contemporary times.”
The makers also intend to bring back the magic of Jagjit Singh and Kaifi Azmi on stage with songs like Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho from the film. “The original songs are being used after several people posted the request on Twitter. The music company which originally owned the copyrights of music was apprehensive about the same but the matter has been resolved now after Bhatt sahab intervened personally,” says Zahid.
But what makes Zahid a Bhatt favouriteIJ “I had attended a workshop in Dubai where I met Bhatt sahab for the first time. He said, ‘Tu hero banega’. later he asked for my photographs. That’s how my association with him began,” shares the actor, who is set to make his debut on big screen with Marksheet. The movie is based on an education scam involving Ranjeet Don who had leaked Common Admission Test (CAT) question papers in 2003. “I am playing a character inspired by Ranjeet. Some portion of the film has been shot and next schedule is likely to begin in November,” he says. The film may release in April next year.