All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players

These lines in William Shakespeare's ‘As You Like It’ are one of the most popular one’s ever. These are from Shakespeare's most frequently quoted passages of all time - Seven ages of man. We all play different roles at different times in our lives. In fact, we play more than one role at any given time.  I love watching theatre, though I am biased towards camera. You can edit, add special effects and totally make people believe the make-believe. However, theatre is a wonderful platform to tell your story in an amazing way – while getting instant reactions from the audience.

Though I am not even mid-way when it comes to living my seven ages according to Shakespeare, I have enjoyed theatre at different stages in my life. Here are seven dramas close to my heart, which I have been watching ever since I was a child.

1.  Solid sapna (Gujarati)

Directed by my dad’s dear friend and one of the most fun loving persons I have ever met, Shailesh Uncle (Shailesh Prajapati), I watched this one when I was twelve. It was about a woman who dreams about certain happenings in a family she hasn’t even met. She lands in their home and predicts things as she dreams about them. And voila, they come true! My dad had composed music for this one (he is a music composer) and the title track was catchy which I remember humming to.

2. Lali leela (Gujarati)

A heart touching drama about a pair of Siamese twins, this one made a huge impact on me. I remember I was so shocked/moved during the climax of the drama that I couldn’t get up from my seat. Disha Vakani scared, shocked, moved and actually made it difficult for me to get up from my seat. I remember my mom asking me to get up and I asked her to wait as my legs felt numb.

3. 102 not out (Gujarati)

Directed by Soumya Joshi, again a dear friend of my dad’s, this one had a great story – about a 102 year old father who teaches his son how to live life to the fullest. It makes you laugh while teaching you a lot about life. This drama is now being made into a Hindi movie starring Amitabh Bachchan and Paresh Rawal.

4. Bhari lau aankhma zindagi (Gujarati)

Directed by the talented Rahul Antani and written by my dear friend Pranav Tripathi, this one is about a girl who gets bitten by the travel bug and how! I felt an instant connect to the protagonist as I have wanderlust too. The story unfolds amazingly, pulling at your heart strings and making your laugh as well. It is now premièring in the USA.

5. Selfie (Hindi)

Five women from totally different backgrounds meet in a waiting room at a railway station. They share deleterious vibes in the beginning and later what ensues is a rapport that makes them realize how they are all battling their own issues. It premièred last weekend, do watch it! 

6. A walk in the woods (English)

Written by Lee Blessing and adapted and directed by Ratna Pathak Shah, this one stars Rajit Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. The actors play negotiators representing Pakistan and India, who meet in Geneva to discuss a proposal that might ease the tension between the two countries. It was a treat to watch an actor being directed by his wife. With sharp, witty humour and superb acting this one was a delight.

7. Hamlet: The clown prince (English)

A comical adaptation of the gloomy and dark play Hamlet by Shakespeare, this one enchants you in a crazy world led by six clowns playing the characters from the original play. Directed by Rajat Kapoor, this has some hilarious dialogues as the characters manage to build a rapport with the audience effortlessly with their histrionics. It also throws light on the director’s superb understanding of the play as he whips out his version.