Pankaj Tripathi was recently appointed as the festival ambassador for Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024, an international theatre festival in Arunachal Pradesh, and the actor is in awe of the dedication for theatre in the state. “I witnessed their passion and also watched a play that was written by an MLA of the state,” he says.

Having spent time in an atmosphere that was all about dramatics, Tripathi was reminded of the role theatre has played in shaping him as an artiste. “Theatre is that part of my life that can never go away. This art form has not just made me a commercial actor, but also taught me how to be a better human being and explore myself,” he says, adding that theatre, as a medium, will shine more in the future. “With technology, things have changed. But as humans, I am sure that soon we will get over all the gadgets. I’ve already reached that stage. The charm of a live performance, which withered for some time, is now returning. It can never die,” he explains.

Impressed by the state government’s efforts in providing an impetus to theatre in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripathi says, “Their government supports the arts and the Chief Minister personally keeps a track of things. In fact, he was the one who invited me. While they thanked me, saying, ‘Aapki presence ki wajah se humare state ke theatre ki baat national level par hogi’, I thanked them for giving me a chance to see such a beautiful and nurturing environment for theatre.”

Today, many aspiring actors see theatre as a stepping stone towards commercial cinema rather than understanding the importance of the immersive medium and what it offers. Talking about it, Tripathi says, “If someone does theatre for even five years, the charm of it will never go away from their hearts. But you feel bad when people do theatre for just six to eight months and then switch to commercial mediums. They then just add in the crowd, and it becomes difficult to find genuine talent,” he says.