Known as the face of nukkad natak and the ‘woman in black’, Shilpi Marwaha finally stepped outside her socio-political plays into the world of cinema. She told Iknoor Kaur about her journey from Asmita to Raanjhanaa
You have probably walked out of your house to hear a woman wearing black, shout slogans. That would have been Shilpi Marwaha. Associated with the renowned Asmita Theatre Group for seven years, she took her first shot at commercial cinema with her forthcoming film, Raanjhanaa.
Shilpi plays Abhay Deol’s sister in the movie. She said she got picked, after Sonam attended a workshop with her group. “She had come with director Anand l Rai. During the workshop, he felt that casting us would make sense because we knew the job and they wouldn’t have to waste time teaching us. People already know us for our black kurtas. It was a way of creating a connect,” she added.
After years as an activist, Shilpi took the role primarily because of the nature of the character. She said, “The character I play is an activist who performs street plays and shouts slogans. That is what I do for a living. So it came to me naturally.”
Shilpi claimed this project opened a different side of acting for her. “Anand sir is a good director. He helped at every step. Sonam and Dhanush are also down to earth.”
Not forgetting her roots, she said her life will move on the way it always has, even after this film. “I like theatre because I relate to it. I will focus next on workshops and more street theatre. I am not interested in cinema,” Marwaha informed. The 24-year-old nukkad natak specialist said that she always loved acting. But after joining Asmita, she saw a different side to it. “When 6000 people watch you in a crowd, you don’t act to entertain, but to spread a message,” she remarked.
Shilpi holds workshops for actors everyday at Katha and during weekends at lok Kala Manch. She also performs street plays every day and does weekend performances as a part of the Asmita Summer Theatre Festival.