Himani Shivpuri recalls performing 'Othello' in a small village in Gujarat in 1983
Mumbai, May 15
Veteran Bollywood actress Himani Shivpuri recently took a trip down memory lane as she recalled one of the most memorable moments from her theatre journey.
The actress remembered performing 'Othello' in Idar, a small village in Gujarat. Sharing a nostalgic post on her social media account, the veteran actress revisited her days with the National School of Drama repertory company and reflected on the unforgettable experience.
In the picture shared by Himani, the actress is seen dressed in a pink traditional outfit, pointing towards an old archival display featuring her play still from the stage production.
Going by the display board she pointed at, the play appears to have been performed in 1983
Sharing the memory, Himani wrote, "Suprabhat! The past and present together,In the Nsd repertory company Fritz Bennewitz had come to direct Othello, Namdev played Othello , and I played Desdemona, Dolly Ahluwalia did the costumes. I can never forget the show of Othello in Idar, a small village in Gujrat. I remember being petrified performing Othello in a village,in the green room the noise of the audience,huge crowd...After the play began the audience was sucked into the poetry and beauty of Shakespeare. A truly humbling experience, one of our best shows!"
Talking about Othello, the story is one of William Shakespeare's most celebrated tragedies.
It has been believed to have been written around 1603. The play follows the story of Othello, a respected military general, and his wife Desdemona.
Over the years, the play has been performed across the world and is touted as one of Shakespeare's most powerful works.
Talking about Himani Shivpuri, on the professional front, has appeared in several popular films including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Hero No.1 and many more.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is the kind of theatre magic we need more of today. Himani Shivpuri's story shows that even in a pre-digital India, art could captivate villagers who probably never heard of Shakespeare. The way they 'sucked into the poetry' says a lot about the universality of good storytelling. Respect for NSD!
Incredible dedication! Performing Othello in a remote village in the 80s with no fancy equipment—just pure passion. Himani ji's fear about the crowd noise turning into awe is a lesson for modern artists. Art can truly bridge the gap between urban and rural India 🙌
This made my day! Such a humble reflection from a veteran actress. I wonder how many such unsung stories of Indian theatre are lost. The NSD repertory company really did pioneering work. And Dolly Ahluwalia doing costumes—what a team! 💫
Nice memory, but I wish we also celebrated more Indian playwrights rather than always going back to Shakespeare. Still, kudos to the team for their craft and courage to perform in a village setting. Himani ji is a gem in our film industry.
Wow! 1983 in Idar, Gujarat—imagine the logistics back then. No smartphones, no social media, just raw talent. Himani ji's fear turned into triumph. This is the kind of dedication that made our theatre legends. Shakespeare in a saree—iconic! 😄
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