Swaroop Sampat returns to the stage, starring opposite Anupam Kher in a new play

As a young girl, Swaroop Sampat’s greatest joy was to sit backstage and watch the heroine of the play apply her make-up and transform into whichever role she was playing. “My father was the chief producer of the Indian National Theatre and I would accompany him to various rehearsals,” recalls the 67 year old.

One of her fondest memories is watching the Gujarati theatre doyen Sarita Joshi getting ready for her role in the iconic play Santu Rangili, a social drama that ran for nine years. “You won’t know how incredible that feels unless you have experienced it. I was hardly 10 years old and to me, theatre felt fantastic,” says the former Miss India, who became a household name with the television serial Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi in 1984.

The magic of theatre continued to hold sway over Sampat, who started acting on stage during her college years. Later, as a professional actor, she often shared the stage with her husband and actor Paresh Rawal. After more than two decades of being away, she recently made her comeback with the play Jaane Pehchaane Anjane, which was premiered in Mumbai on April 12 at NCPA, and will have its premiere in Delhi on May 22, 23 and 24 May at Kamani Auditorium. The play, which sees her perform opposite Anupam Kher, is a light-hearted take on serious themes such as loneliness and companionship. The play revolves around different characters – a widow, a widower, a young paying guest, and a woman navigating mid-life separation.

“The length of my role might be lesser than Anupam’s but this character goes through solid ups and downs, and has some great scenes. Also, I didn’t want to do something which was too hectic. I want to enjoy myself on stage and this was a great fit,” she says, describing her co-actor as “a fantastic person”. Later this year, the play is also travelling to the US and Canada.

Swaroop Sampat and Anupam Kher
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

While Sampat may have stepped away from the spotlight for some time, her bond with the stage never truly faded. Theatre is woven into the very fabric of her family life — with her husband and both sons, Aniruddh and Aditya Rawal, being active practitioners — but her own connection is academic as much as it is personal. Her doctoral thesis at the University of Worcester focused on the powerful role of drama in developing life skills for children with learning disabilities.

“As an educational researcher, I’m constantly presenting papers and giving talks on stage,” she explains. “I may not have been acting, but I was still performing for an audience. That’s likely why it never felt like I had truly left.”

Ultimately, it was a nudge from Anupam that brought her back to her roots. “Anupam really pushed me to take this leap, and I’m so glad I did,” she says. “Friends who’ve known me for decades say they see a new energy and a spark in my eyes lately. It’s all down to my love for theatre!”

On the cinematic front, Sampat has made notable appearances in films such as Ki & Ka (2016), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), and The White Tiger (2021). While her commitment to education remains her primary focus, she maintains a keen interest in returning to the screen and stage for the right projects.

The play is on at Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, Delhi. Tickets are available on Bookmyshow.com.