Powerhouse Mahesh Manjrekar Returns to the Stage with Hindi Play ANIMAL
April 1, 2026 18:55:53 IST MTG editorial
After over two decades of friendship and a creative partnership that has yielded some of Indian theatre's most memorable work, powerhouse Mahesh Manjrekar and veteran theatre producer Ashvin Gidwani come together once again... this time with ANIMAL, a stark and uncompromising new Hindi play. Years after their widely successful first stage collaboration, Double Deal, the duo returns with a work that is rawer, leaner, and far more unsettling. Presented by AGP World, ANIMAL is directed by and stars Mahesh Manjrekar, performing on Saturday, 4th April at the St Andrews Auditorium, Mumbai.
An unflinching, actor-driven work, ANIMAL examines the slow, often invisible erosion of the human spirit in the pursuit of ambition. At its centre is Dattu played by Manjrekar, a young man from a small town near Pandharpur, Maharashtra, who arrives in Mumbai chasing the promise of stardom. What begins as faith in the city and belief in himself gradually turns into a fight for survival. Alone on stage, Dattu addresses the city, imagined audiences, and his own fractured conscience, as performance and confession merge into one.
ANIMAL comes to the stage after nearly nine years of discussion and preparation. In the production, Manjrekar takes on the dual role of director and performer - a choice that gives the play its urgency and vulnerability. Stripped of theatrical safety nets, with no ensemble and no visual excess, the weight of the production rests entirely on the performer's body, voice, and presence. Interestingly, even as ANIMAL takes shape, Manjrekar and Gidwani are simultaneously collaborating on another theatre production, Lovable Rascal, all set to be showcased this week.
Having spent decades in the industry and seen the full arc of success, failure, and everything in between, Manjrekar says ANIMAL comes from what he has witnessed first-hand. "Dattu is not a hero," he says. "He is not even extraordinary. He is a young man from the soil who arrives in Mumbai carrying a suitcase full of dreams and a stomach full of hunger. I have seen thousands like him. Some become stars. Most become shadows." He continues, "What drew me was his innocence and how slowly the city peels it away. Dattu does not turn into an ANIMAL overnight. It happens quietly. One compromise. One humiliation. One rejection at a time."
In fact, Mumbai itself functions as an unseen force within ANIMAL. Rather than being depicted visually, the city is felt through sound, pace, and pressure - a presence that tests endurance rather than offering refuge. The city does not seduce in this play; it evaluates.
In Manjrekar's words, "Dattu speaks to Mumbai like a lover. Mumbai answers like a judge." Elaborating on his approach, he adds, "I did not want to show Marine Drive or skyline projections. I wanted the city to exist through sound, through pressure. Local train announcements. Audition rooms. The word 'Next!' said casually. Doors closing. On stage, we created emptiness. Because that is what the city often gives you - space, but no place."
Produced by AGP World, ANIMAL continues the company's long-standing commitment to bold, actor-driven storytelling. Under Ashvin Gidwani's leadership, AGP World has delivered some of the country's most successful and best toured productions including Barff, Devdas - The Musical, The Scent of a Man, and Blame It on Bollywood, among others. Reflecting on the partnership with Manjrekar, Gidwani shares, "Mahesh Manjrekar is, quite simply, one of the finest creative minds in Indian theatre, a director, writer, and performer of rare calibre. His Marathi theatre discipline brings a rigour and authenticity that cannot be replicated. And beyond the professional, there is our friendship that spans over two decades. The shared trust, the mutual respect, is perhaps the real secret sauce of our success each time."
Looking ahead, ANIMAL is already charting a journey far beyond its premiere. Ask Gidwani what's next for the play, and he quips, "The world, quite literally! ANIMAL is built to travel - a portable, production-friendly show designed to work across venues and geographies. The response has already been extraordinary. We have seven enquiries from across the globe, and we are only just getting started!"
Catch ANIMAL on 4th April 2026 at the St Andrews Auditorium, Bandra, from 7:30 pm onwards. Tickets are live on BookMyShow. *Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.
