If one was to name some of the best Hindi theatre plays of the last 10 years or so, names like Kharaashein, Hum Safar, Aapki Soniya, Ghalibnaama and Kachche Lamhe are bound to come up. And it is productions like these that make Salim Arif one of the most talented directors in Hindi theatre today. He’s received numerous awards and recognitions and was recently conferred the Hindi Sewa Samman by the Vishwa Hindi Akademy. “It feels great to know that your work is being recognised. In the larger context, the awareness that Hindi theatre is thriving in Mumbai has led to this award,” says Arif. But for the theatre personality, there’s another recognition that he cherishes as much as he cherishes the other awards. “There’s a book of stories by Gulzarsaab, Deodhi, which he dedicated to me, not once but thrice. To have an entire storybook written by one of the topmost writers of the country dedicated to me, is a huge honour,” says Arif. Excerpts from an interview:u00a0

Salim Arif believes it’s a great time for Hindi theatre in the city