Farooq Shaikh Birth Anniversary: Feroz Abbas Khan on directing the legendary actor in Tumhari Amrita, “We were supposed to do only four performances. Rest is history”

Yesterday, was the 78^th birth anniversary of the legendary Farooq Shaikh. Among his various notable works was the classic play Tumhari Amrita. The director of that play Feroz Abbas Khan spoke about the late actor in an interview with us.

When was the first time you met Farooq Shaikh?
I actually don’t remember meeting him formally before I offered him Tumhari Amrita. I used to watch him at IPTA’s drama competition and at Prithvi Theatre but never had a conversation.

What was your impression of him?
I found him extremely polite, gracious and very normal despite being a huge star at that time. Since 1985, every year on 28th February, the birth anniversary of Jennifer Kapoor, we have had an annual memorial concert by Ustad Zakir Hussain performing with other artistes uninterrupted for forty years.

How did Tumhari Amrita happen?
In 1992, we decided to do a three-day festival of dance, theatre and music. As my dedication to Jennifer Kapoor, I decided to do Tumhari Amrita, which was only supposed to play for four performances. Rest is history.

Did you ever expect it to have such long legs?
Javed Siddiqui’s magical script affected the audiences deeply. Then you had two of the finest exponents of the art of acting Shabana Azmi and Farooq Shaikh giving scintillating performances. The audience was mesmerised.

Have you ever thought of reviving Tumhari Amrita without Farooq?
It’s difficult to imagine the play being performed without him. I just weep looking at his handwritten letters. Yet someday the play has to be brought back to life and some other actors will be performing it.

Apparently, Farooq had a premonition of his death?
I have absolutely no idea he had a premonition. In fact, we were planning to meet with the UP government for the restoration of Ghalib’s home in Agra in a week’s time when he suddenly passed away. He was culture, grace, talent and deep-humanity personified.

Also Read: Feroz Abbas Khan, who adapted K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam on stage, speaks about the timeless classic as it completes 65 years: “Only gods can decipher its flaws… mortals cannot”

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