Debutant director Raghav Dutt admits that he had never heard of the word ‘theatre’. He recalls, “When I was 17, I came to Mumbai. For me, theatre meant going to the cinema hall.” Dutt will be showcasing his play, Baawla in the city though his tryst with stage lights and curtains started with an acting part in Section 377, directed by theatre doyen Padma Bhushan Pandit Satyadev Dubey.

The play, Baawla, depicts the inner conflict of the protagonist. Pics courtesy/Punit Reddy

Then onwards, Dutt managed to impress the audiences in performances such as Mumtaz Bhai Patangwale, Aaj Rang Hai, Laal Pencil and others. “I explored my soul in theatre while I did production and backstage, along with acting for various plays. During this journey, I started writing small poems and got appreciation for them. Eventually, I started writing poems/songs for different plays as well as lyrics for films.”