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ShareTwelve plays in eight years; about 1,800 shows, all successful. The Apara Mehta-Feiroz Bhagat pair is unique on the Gujarati stage. The duo intend to do two more plays, complete a decade of performing
together and then decide what to do next. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to find subjects that suit us both and give us equally important roles," they say.
Bhagat is a fourth generation theatrewallah, producer, director, writer and actor. Mehta started acting in college, married fellow actor Darrshan Jariwala, became a TV soap opera star, but never gave up the stage. She is known to have done the Mumbai-Ahmedabad commute daily -- evenings for shows and daytime for shoots."I never missed a flight," she says, "and never did a show get cancelled. There must be someone up there watching over our plays."
The couple started working together in 2000, when Bhagat wanted to do Adhura Toy Madhura (the Bollywood film Baghbaan was based on this), and the producer asked him to get Mehta. She did 36 show of the play in a month, balancing three daily and four weekly TV shows, "living in my car on the road," she recalls.
One thing led to another, they say, and their plays were such hits that they were soon travelling regularly to the UK, US, Dubai and Hong Kong. The secret of their continuing success, they say, is that they do one play a year, which prevents overexposure. "And like a family doctor, we know the pulse of the audience," says Bhagat. "The moment I step on stage, I know the mood of the audience -- whether they want to laugh or to cry -- and we subtly alter scenes accordingly."
Both of then also agree that they do audience-pleasing productions. "This is our business," says Mehta, "and we are proud of it.What use is art if it does not reach people? What is wrong with bringing art and economics together? I have also done experimental plays at the start of my career with Darrshan and Paresh Rawal, but I enjoy performing for a large audience. A Gujarati play is like a thali, it has a mix of everything. I am happy where I am just now."
Besides the row of hits and audience demand for the Mehta-Bhagat pair, what keeps the two together is friendship. "We fight a lot, we kick chairs, walk out, but at the end of the day, we are close friends and will do anything to make a play work." The highpoint of their commitment to theatre and to each other is a play called Puchhe Chhe Dikri -- the lead actress was fired a day before the show opened and Mehta stepped in to replace her overnight.
Not being married to each other is also a plus, they laugh. "Just like married couples don't work in films, they don't do to well in theatre either," says Bhagat. "Audiences don't take them seriously; it looks like they are playing house-house on stage."
The duo is justifiably proud of the success earned: "TV is free, but people pay to come and see us and Rs300 a ticket is more than what they would pay at a multiplex to see a big star. That's something, isn't it?"
