The search for Khusro

Playing the role Khusro has been a soul-searching experience for Shahbaz Khan. The play 'Amir Khusro' based on the life of the great mystic saint will be premiering in the city next weekend. CS caught up with Shahbaz at the rehearsals:


PIC/ SANTOSH NAGWEKAR

A multidimensional personality
Actually, LA Kazi, our director, had been contemplating about making this play for a long time. He was researching for more than a year. When you produce a play on a figure like Amir Khusro, you need to pay minute attention to detail. Most of us know him as a great mystic poet, but he was also a historian, musician, dance connoisseur, the creator of khayal, qawwali and lot more. One of India's original secularists, Khusro's contribution to Indian culture is unparallel. The play is an exploration of Khusro's life, right from his birth to his royal success and mystic transformation. It's a musical play with a number of songs and Kathak dances.

Playing Khusro
My family has been influenced by Khusro for generations. Ustad Amir Khan Sahab, my grandfather, introduced Khusro's work in the Indian classical scene in the 20th century by popularising the khayal and tarana. I feel that I am connecting with my ancestors through this play. Moreover, this play is mostly in Urdu and it gives me sheer pleasure to speak the language. The play has also touched me on a spiritual level. Khusro was an example of life itself. He lived his life to the fullest and told the world that 'Zindagi sirf mith jaane ka naam nahi hai', it meant proving yourself to the world. In today's materialistic world, Khusro's transcendence from a royal court poet to a mystic follower of the fakir Nizamuddin Auliya is a lesson in itself.

Living my passion
While film and television are popular media for actors, theatre shows the real art of acting. Theatre has given India some of it's finest actors who became famous only after they switched over to films. I feel that more people should come forth and appreciate Indian theatre as it is a storehouse of talent. For us, money has always been of secondary importance. Passion comes first. While I agree that money is extremely important in life, it shouldn't affect your creative streak.