“Live performances have a vitality of their own,” says actor Manish Chaudhari, who is gearing up to perform his play Antataha in Pune this weekend. Manish has previously explored different mediums of entertainment, be it films, plays or OTT titles and believes that entertainment is all part of the exploration of stepping out.

“I’ve realised that there’s only so much that one can sit at home and watch on OTT these days. I think people have missed going to the theatres during the last couple of years,” says Manish, whose performances in shows like Aarya and Bombay Begums have been appreciated. He adds, “While consumption of content on OTT platforms has skyrocketed since the Coronavirus pandemic struck, audiences are slowly making their way back to cinema halls and live performances now.”

Manish’s upcoming play explores the bond between parents and their children while also tapping into the inevitable moment of life— death. The play showcases how the characters struggle to come to terms with death while also trying to push beyond the concept of “the end” and learning to set themselves free. Manish essays the role of a father who suffers from a physical ailment which often stops him from expressing himself as he would want to. Fed up with the crutches of life, his character patiently awaits his passing.

While the pandemic forced work to slow down, it also gave many a chance to step out of the hamster wheel for some downtime. “A 24-hour work day feels as little as six hours, especially when you live in a city like Mumbai where the pace is very fast. The two years gave me time to take the backseat and helped me learn to breathe instead of being too frantic about things,” he shares.

He also talks about the ‘boycott’ cloud that has been looming over the box office lately. “I don't believe any boycott calls can stop people from going out and looking for entertainment especially when it comes to movies. I think the movies that haven’t worked were because they failed to make an impression on the audience,” he says.

However, the positive side to this, he tells us, is that the entertainment industry has a great opportunity to gear up and fix this issue by telling stories that will bring audiences back to the theatres. He adds, “I think it is just a temporary slump which will get back on track and better from here.”