Mahesh Manjrekar recently staged his first-ever solo play as writer, director and performer. Titled Animal, the raw, introspective play marks a new chapter for the actor-director who has long balanced mainstream Hindi cinema and Marathi storytelling. For Manjrekar, theatre remains a space of truth and discipline. He says, “The stage is unforgiving, and that’s why I return to it. In cinema, you have retakes, edits, background score. In theatre, you have breath. One actor, one space, one truth. Animal is personal. A solo performance demands emotional stamina that film rarely asks of you. There is no hiding. The audience can sense dishonesty from the last row. Theatre keeps me sharp and grounded. It strips away vanity and reminds me why I became an actor in the first place.”‘Regional storytelling often emerges from lived realities, not trends’Reflecting on the strength of storytelling in Marathi cinema and plays, he shares, “Marathi theatre and cinema have always valued rehearsal, writing discipline and performance depth. There is patience in the process. That patience is sometimes missing in mainstream setups driven by opening weekend numbers. Hindi cinema can learn to invest more time in script development.”The director, who has made films like Vaastav and Astitva, among others, adds, “Regional storytelling often emerges from lived realities, not trends. That authenticity cannot be manufactured. The barrier is perception. There is still a subtle hierarchy attached to ‘mainstream’ versus ‘regional.’ That mindset must dissolve. Talent has no language.” “The audience can sense dishonesty from the last row. Theatre keeps me sharp and grounded. It strips away vanity and reminds me why I became an actor in the first place.” – Mahesh Manjrekar
