From Stage to Screen: 7 Actors You Never Knew Began in Theater

World Theater Day:  Bollywood has been bejeweled with many gems with their roots tracing back to theaters. Irfaan Khan, Om Puri, Rajkumar Rao, and Manoj Bajpayee are the first few names that come to mind when we talk about Bollywood celebs with a background in the future. While these popular actors have risen to stardom to the extent of dominating the industry, there are names like Sheeba Chadha, Jaideep Ahlawat, Kalki Koechlin, Sunny Hinduja, Nimrat Kaur Deepak Dobriyal part of the showbiz who also started as stage actors before they gained popularity on screen. 

Kalki Koechlin 

The versatile Kalki Koechlin is known for her remarkable performance in ‘Margarita With A Straw’, and ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’. The actress studies drama at Goldsmiths, University of London while working with a local theater company. 

Jaideep Ahalawat 

Pataal Lok famed, and a popular name in the OTT scenes, Jaideep Ahalwat became a member of a theater company back in his college days. Before enrolling at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 2008 he has been a part of many stage plays in Haryana and Punjab. 

Nimrat Kaur 

Popular for her performances in ‘Lunchbox’ and ‘Airlift’ Nimrat Kaur is known for her captivating stage presence. She has been a member of several stage plays of Shri Ram College of Commerce’s stage plays in Delhi University. She has also worked in plays like Baghdad Wedding (2012), All About Women, Homeland, and Red Sparrow. 

Sunny Hinduja    

The favorite ‘Sandeep Bhaiya’ from ‘Aspirants’ started his journey in Bollywood with the 2010 film ‘Shaapit: The Cursed’. But they say, it is better late than never, so while his journey from stage to screen was a long one, he indeed shone through it. 

Radhika Apte 

The queen who has rocked regional cinema, commercial cinema, and art cinema, Radhika Apte has worked with ‘Asakata’ a theater troupe by Mohit Takalkar. She has notably worked in plays including Tu, Purnaviram, and Matra Ratra.  

Deepak Dobriyal 

A man who made his audience laugh, cry, and get frightened with his impeccable prowess as an actor, Deepak Dobriyal is best known for acting in ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo’, ‘Angrezi Medium’ and more. Dobriyal also has his roots in the stage. 

Ratna Pathak Shah 

Ratna Pathak Shah is a contemporary of eminent actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri Ratna, and has worked in multiple stage plays as an actor. She is known for her roles in movies like ‘Khoobsurat’ and ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’   

The theater has been an accessible and foundational measure for many skilled artists to bring their art to the forefront and continues to hold immense significance in the film fraternity as well.