Sahir Ludhianvi’s iconic poem Woh Subah Kabhi To Aayegi spoke about revolting against oppression and creating a tomorrow shaped by equality. That hope forms the backbone of Wo Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi, a play presented by Mahesh Bhatt that follows a young man navigating a changing India in the early 1990s. While the filmmaker built an enduring career in movies, he has also produced several plays. What has it taught him? That theatre remains the country’s richest talent pool, even if it doesn’t receive the respect it deserves. 

On a call with mid-day, Bhatt expressed his disappointment as he said, “The problem is that theatre has become a springboard to films and television. There are people like Naseeruddin Shah and Makarand Deshpande for whom theatre is an end in itself, but for many others, it’s merely a means to an end. That’s unfortunate because this is where you discover writers and actors.”