Adhaar Khurana, writer, actor and director comes from a family involved in the performing arts for several years. So when he decided to study Forensic Biology abroad, he was indeed breaking away from family tradition. "But no one in my family raised an eyebrow at my choice. They were all very supportive and encouraging."
After he completed his PG studies abroad (Scotland), he worked in a private forensics organisation before the recession shut it down. Since there were not many takers for a specialised field like forensics, Adhaar had to cool his heels or fall back on family tradition once again. Having done several bit parts in children's plays, worked in Thespo and Akvarious Theatre productions in several non-lead roles, the experience of theatre held him in good stead
A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS, which opens at the NCPA Experimental Theatre in April(9th-11th), is his fifth play as director (after Jumpstart, Sometimes, Internal Affairs, A Special Bond). "Since I am coming back to direction after a span of three years, the entire experience feels fresh -- just like I was doing my very first play," he opines.
Alan Ayckbourn's play has been adapted by his brother Akarsh. "We chose this play because it lends itself well to an Indian set-up. We have our own small business families in India and Akarsh has adapted the English play to suit the Indian context." An NCPA Production in association with Akvarious Productions, the play is about a boisterous, corrupt Punjabi business family going into a tizzy after the son-in-law, Samson Sequeira, a mild mannered Goan Christian, a man of principle in a corrupt world, is entrusted with the reins of the family business by his father-in-law. Thereafter it's bedlam and Samson is expected to come out of all the dishonest, double crossing shenanigans with his integrity intact.
(Johnson Thomas is an independent writer and critic.)