On World Theatre Day (March 27, 2026), Scam 1992 star Pratik Gandhi opened up about his two-decade journey on stage, crediting the medium as the foundation of his career. Despite his massive success in films and web series, Gandhi remains a vocal advocate for the “exclusive” nature of live performance.
Why Theatre is the Ultimate “Actor’s Gym”
Gandhi uses the gym analogy to describe the rigorous, raw nature of stage acting. According to him, theatre strips away the “safety nets” found in cinema:
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Zero Space for Error: Unlike film, there are no retakes or “jing bang” music to hide a weak performance.
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The “Naked” Truth: On stage, an actor stands alone. “Nothing can support you… beyond a point, it’s an actor who will have to pull it through.”
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Soul and Energy: While physically demanding, it provides a level of satisfaction and “soul” that virtual mediums cannot replicate.
“It teaches you discipline and makes you human! It makes you understand that nothing is permanent—one day it can be a standing ovation and the next day nothing might work!” — Pratik Gandhi
The Economics of the Stage: India vs. The West
Gandhi highlights a significant disparity in how theatre is valued commercially. While he notes that people are increasingly willing to pay for live experiences (concerts, stand-up), the “viability” of theatre remains a challenge.
| Feature | Indian Theatre | Western Theatre (e.g., Broadway) |
| Ticket Pricing | Relatively low compared to films. | High ($85 vs. $15 for a movie). |
| Mobility | The theatre “travels” to different cities. | The production stays put; the audience travels to it. |
| Effort vs. Pay | 100x effort for < 1/10th the pay of films. | Highly commercialized and lucrative. |
What’s Next for Pratik Gandhi?
After a string of successful monologues like Mohan Ka Masala, Gandhi is looking to shift gears:
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Genre: He is currently scouting scripts for a high-energy, multi-starrer comedy play.
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Role: He plans to step into the role of producer, creating plays regardless of whether he acts in them.
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Upcoming Films: Fans can look out for him in Mess (dir. Rajesh Krishnan), Ghamasaan (dir. Tigmanshu Dhulia), and Hum Hindustani (dir. Rahul Dholakia).
A Plea for Infrastructure
Gandhi concluded with a wish for the future of Indian storytelling: Better Infrastructure. He noted that while India is a “country of stories,” the physical theatres are often poorly maintained or non-existent, which hinders new-age actors and enthusiasts from exploring the medium.
