One of the most well-known playwrights in the country today, with published plays and award winning movies to his credit, hard-core Bangalorean Mahesh Dattani has made his mark in Indian theatre. This actor, director, writer and teacher rolled into one left the City two years ago but was back in the City recently.

Metrolife caught up with him to find out what he has been upto in his time away from the City. Sitting by the pool at the Park, Mahesh he indulged in chocolate truffles and chatted about his move from Bangalore and his latest production.

Why did you move away from Bangalore?

I was very disillusioned by the theatre in Bangalore. I’ve been here for so many years but I always felt that the City’s theatre scene missed out the professional aspect. My mum hadn’t been keeping well and I was here with her, but when she passed away there was nothing to keep me in the City.

The obvious choice was Mumbai — my productions there have only proved that they are more professional. In Bangalore, most people are into theatre part-time. But there is one thing, most actors in Mumbai are into movies and serials, that supplements the income and so they can be involved in theatre more. Unfortunately Bangaloreans don’t have that luxury.

What productions have you been involved with in Mumbai?

Two of my productions have been taking up my time - Mad about money and Double deal. Double deal especially has done exceptionally well. Its toured to so many cities in India, its been to Dubai and is going to Hong Kong, Singapore and the US and Bangalore.

This is what Mumbai has given me, it allows plays to travel apart from many other aspects. I am also working with Siddharth Basu, who, after his stint with reality TV is now moving on to fiction. I’m helping in developing content for those serials.

Tell us about your latest work?

I’m now involved with an arts company called Kathakar. The company has been set up to promote arts in the City. I think this is where my experience in Mumbai will come in handy, we want to make this company as professional as possible.

We are coming up with a production called ‘Seven steps around the fire’ which I had first written for BBC as a radio play. An interesting aspect is that Kathakar is also bringing out ‘Seven steps around the fire’ as a movie.

You teach in universities across the world, will you bring in the teaching aspect into your new company?

Yes, that is going to be a crucial aspect. This City has great talent but only with workshops will we have skilled actors. So Kathakar will focus on training workshops apart from productions.

‘Seven steps around the fire’ is coming from Bangalore, how did that happen?

It started when I met Sushma Veer, I was very impressed by her passion and I felt I had to bring this production out from Bangalore. Sushma, Rubi Chakravarthi and I are working together in Kathakar and it has made me realise that I will always have one foot in this City!