Arundhati Nag is a woman of many interests. She is a theatre actor, the driving force behind one of the finest theatre spaces in India, Rangashankara , and has become a household name for her roles in major Hindi films. She is serious about doing her bit for environment, is a good cook and a gracious host. Arundhati believes in opening her home for one and all, and handles all these roles with impeccable grace and finesse, and a striking conviction.
“Every student who steps into college need not excel academically, but it should be a time and space where you discover yourself,” says Arundhati, recalling her college years in Mumbai. She wanted to enter the JJ School of Arts, but her mother advised her to do a course “that would stand by her in life”. So she enrolled herself for B.Com in Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics with apprehension. “How would I manage this, I wondered, as maths was not up my alley. Within a week, I saw a poster in college saying that there was going to be selections for a Hindi play, and, thankfully, I got selected.”
The stage beckons
Theatre anchored her, and since Arundhati was good with languages, she was recognised soon. “There was no stopping me. We went from one inter-collegiate contest to the other, and won prizes. I began to act in Marathi and English plays as well. At the same time as I was in college, Paresh Rawal also used to compete from his college. He was a fine actor even then. Those days we never spoke to each other because we were opponents! Shankar Nag and Harish Patel were in Lala Lajpath Rai college.” Her college was proud of Arundhati’s achievements and ensured that she got all the assistance she required.
“I was an average student, but my teachers were aware that theatre was my strength. This is a crucial phase in one’s life, when a sense of who you are is developing. You are not good at something but may shine at something else. You need good friends and role models to take you through these decision-making years. My professors allowed me to discover myself and encouraged me. I remember Professor Govind Jha, U.R. Kohli… who were amazing. They gave us space to rehearse, they allocated a budget for theatre activities and motivated us to excel,” recounts Arundhati.
It was during this period that she joined Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), and entered television as well. Theatre became a full-time pursuit. “College is a great entry point. You must be lucky to find teachers who tell you that academics is fine, but also advice you to align yourself with sports or performing arts, and so on. But sadly in India, you throw children into the race. Middle-class awakening has to happen.”
The gift of education, according to Arundhati, is developing a sense of ‘who you are’ with respect to society, and not what you are from what money gives you.
“When I was leaving college, my professors came home to meet my mother. They told her that she should never cut my connection with theatre. I am grateful to all of them, and my mother…,” says Arundhati.
