ZEE Theatre, a special offering from the stable of the leading global content company ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd launched Agnipankh in Mumbai.

Directed by acclaimed actor Ganesh Yadav, the play features Mita Vashisht playing the lead role of Durgeshwari along with Satyajit Sharma, Gulki Joshi, Prasad Jawade, Raksha Shetty, Somesh Agarwal, Dinkar Gawande and Sumukha. Premiered on Saturday, March 25 at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Bandra Road Agnipankh is a historical drama set in a newly independent India with the winds of change sweeping across the country.

Durgeshwari or Baisaab as she is reverently called by all is a wealthy Brahmin taking over from her husband’s inability of looking after the family heritage. She rules with an iron fist and instills fear in all. Her disdain for the lower castes and her zest for power fail her in her responsibilities as a mother, wife and more importantly, the changing times.

It is only when the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated by a Nathuram Godse that Durgeshwari accepts that her time to play Baisab is over. It is a role of a lifetime and Mita Vashisht says she is delighted to be chosen for Agnipankh because her role as Durgeshwari, shows not only the struggle of a woman with societal obligations, but also portrays her struggle with the family.

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Kumudini Lakhia is the visionary who created Kadamb School of Dance and Music in 1967 with the sole purpose of promoting the appreciation of Kathak Dance in Ahmedabad and in the state of Gujarat.

Now over 35 years old the school has the reputation of an institution that imparts training in Kathak dance and offers a holistic view of dance education. Kumudini has often said in her interviews that when she is on stage she feels like a queen and this is a lesson she has imparted to all her students that on stage feel like a princess.

Often described as the Queen of Kathak, her dance academy has produced over 70 dance productions which have been staged all over India. Kumudin Lakhia is unique because of  her extra-ordinary style comprising creative innovations and refreshing dimensions to the traditional technique that leaves the audience mesmerized.

Today she is 87 and not performing but her school and her productions are still going house full.

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‘Considering this is your 13^th book you have been extraordinarily lucky’, said a friend of mine. ‘Look at the number of book launches you have had in the last three months’. She was right.

Beginning with the TV Asia launch in New Jersey followed by Mumbai launch at the hands of Amitabh Bachchan, I have had the fortune of releasing Once Upon A Time in India in Delhi a two prestigious events, The first at an academy IIMC amidst students and later at the popular Rekhta Festival in the capital where Sharmila Tagore did the honors.

Last week I was fortunate to be invited and felicitated by Gramophone Club in Ahmedabad and my book released at the hands of  Kathak exponent and legendary dancer/ choreographer/ director Kumudini Lakhia.

The interesting about a book like Once Upon A Time in India is that because it captures the history of Indian cinema, every state and region feels a connect with the music and the milestones. That is the magic of memories!

And my role as an author is to revive old images like the bioscope we watched in childhood, to create illusions and in the process tell a timeless story that everybody knows and wants to hear/ read it again and again.

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I am often asked how difficult it was reaching where I am today despite being a woman and my answer always is that I am where I am without facing any gender discrimination at home or at work place.

I am the sixth daughter and the eighth child of my parents and though born very late to my parents who were pushing 50 at that time I grew up in a home without restrictions or deprivations.

My older siblings and I were given freedom of choice and freedom of identity, we were taught to never abuse the trust our parents held in us.  My parents never pressurised us for scoring grades or medals but if we did, they were always there to cheer and applaud us. There was greater emphasis on values, we knew even as little girls that we will never cheat, never lie no matter what the provocation or temptation.

The values inculcated in childhood came in handy all through our growing up years and at work place when we secured our first jobs.

When I signed my first contract as a journalist my father said, ‘Be fair, play clean and remain true, you will be happy and successful’ I have remembered that and abided by it. My mother said ‘Never trust anyone completely’ I did and when I was let down by them never regretted my act because I believe that if somebody lets me down it reflects their character not mine.

A senior editor I started my career with said, ‘Work when you are watched, work when you are not watched, work because you like working, not because you like being watched.’

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