02 June,2026 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
Akarsh Khurana takes a break at the Lower Parel venue during the conversation. Pics/Ashish Raje
It is a busy afternoon while the cast and crew of Micro Theatre sets up their technical check on stage at antiSOCIAL in Lower Parel. Akarsh Khurana smiles, as he walks in; the tiredness of a battle-weary veteran of Mumbai traffic is hard to miss. "It feels like this city is at war with itself. I have grown up in Mumbai; a Bandra boy through and through, and yet, I find it tough to defend it these days," he admits.
The conversation flows over cups of coffee, jokes, and insight into anecdotes and observations on everything from the stage to film.
(From left) Akarsh, Dilshad, Akash, Meera, and Adhaar Khurana. Pic Courtesy/Akarsh Khurana
Excerpts from the interview
Congratulations on 25 years. That's quite an achievement...
It was in 2000 when we set up our production. Last year, we wanted to just celebrate. This year, it might be a reduced showcase.
Take us back to 2000, and your first production.
I was at St Xaviers' College. Arghya [Lahiri] was a schoolmate, back from Arya Vidya Mandir in Bandra. One evening at Prithvi [Theatre], he suggested I submit a play to Thespo.
Jahaan Singh (in red) converses with Khurana during the rehearsal
And, which play was this?
It was Brothers. I recall one of our lead actors contracted malaria two days before the opening, and I had to step in. Thankfully, we did well.
The perfect start for a 23-year-old on the stageâ¦
Yes, but at a cost. The next season, I got more ambitious, and set up a production with 28 actors. We were literally booed off stage. I considered quitting theatre altogether.
So why didn't you?
Back then, you had to apply in advance for dates at venues. Just then, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) offered me two dates. Quasar Thakore [Padamsee], Arghya [Lahiri], myself, and a few others quickly put together a quartet of short plays which did spectacularly. That was a resurrection.
Going back to setting up Akvarious. What was the moment of epiphany?
It felt like a place I wanted to be in. The name, Akvarious, came from my father's [Akash Khurana] writing company - a combination of his initials, and his star sign, Aquarius. But it was not till 2010, that we found a contemporary, urban language that defined us.
Akarsh Khurana (second from left) during a staging of Brothers
That language is not just in theatre. I remember it in Karwaan. How did you not get mobbed during the shoot?
We did. Do you remember that now famous scene of Dulquer Salman, Mithila [Palkar] and Irrfan [Khan] on the bridge? It is now called the DQ Bridge.
It had been built just a week before we arrived. Avinash [Arun, Director of Photography] and I picked it because it was an isolated place. Unfortunately, on the day of the shoot, there was a funeral in the village. Suddenly, hundreds of people were trying to catch sight of Dulquer [Salman]. Everyone else became almost irrelevant.
Two hilarious episodes occurred. Irrfan couldn't reach his car, and just hopped on a passing local bike for a lift. The other incident was that Avinash and I were trying to set up a shot, and one over enthusiastic gentleman climbed up on my shoulder to take a picture of Dulquer (laughs). It was memorable.
Talk to us about the idea of curating theatre at a musical venue
They [antiSocial] approached us with the idea as they found that a few days in the week were slower at the venue. It sounded like a good alternative to experiment with subjects to suit the space. After a while of staging plays, we also stepped on board to help with the curation. The Micro Theatre itself is an interesting idea, and is mainly overseen by Jahaan Singh and Rayaan Khatib.
We want to build a community of theatre lovers, actors, and audiences. To do so in Lower Parel is an interesting project.
With your dad, and Adhaar, do you think of the legacy on stage?
I don't think we consider legacy much. Even this community-building exercise is something we simply chose to do as an interesting experiment.
What is the ultimate objective?
The ultimate dream is to have my own venue. But it takes a lot. In this next five-year plan, it is something I would like to achieve.
After the end
ON Today; 8.30 pm
AT antiSOCIAL, Lower Parel.
External Affairs
ON June 7; 6 pm
AT Rangshila, Versova, Andheri West.
Patna Ka Superhero
ON June 9; 8.30 pm
AT antiSOCIAL, Lower Parel
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