Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 5, 2018)

It was a double celebration for the Kapoor clan on Saturday when Prithvi Theatre turned 40 alongside Prithviraj Kapoor’s 112th birth anniversary. The late patriarch’s grandsons, Randhir and Kunal, and great-grandson Ranbir, joined thespians and theatre loyalists — Rajit Kapur, Lillete Dubey, Lara Dutta, Shyam Benegal, Ila Arun, Divya Dutta, Gulshan Devaiah and Tinu Anand, among others — to mark the occasion.

The festival kicked off at Opera House with the staging of Prithviraj’s play Deewar, which had first premiered at the venue in 1945. “I am proud that the theatre re-enacted my grandfather’s play. It was a nostalgic moment for the family and festival regulars. Shashi Kapoor and (his late actress-wife) Jennifer had established the theatre and it’s going strong with (their son) Kunal,” Randhir told Mirror.

Rajit, a long-time associate of the theatre, informed that Deewar, which revolves around Partition, was co-written by Prithviraj and its new version is directed by Sunil Shanbag. “My father once told me that he had watched the original play as a child in Punjab. Now, it’s commendable that members of the Kapoor family make it a point to attend the opening night of the festival every year,” the actor-filmmaker added.

Rajit, who was recently seen in the Junglee Pictures production Raazi, traced his association with Prithvi theatre back to his college days. “As students, just being at the theatre was a privilege. We volunteered there just so we could watch some plays. I was in the third year of college during my first ever performance, Night of January 16. It was magical,” he signed off.