Payal Rohtagi makes a sizzling stage debut in FOUR PLAY. The computer engineer insists it's a luscious dance sequence like Sri Devi's Mr India number - 'Kaate nahi katate yeh din yeh raat..'  Deepa Ranade First films, then TV shows, and now theatre. Why have you have taken the reverse route in show business? I have done films and a famous reality show - Big Boss. I had tried these two mediums, and now it's the stage. I have been attending Qasar Thakore Padamsee's acting workshops since the last five to six months, and I was keen to try out theatre because it is one medium which helps you sustain your acting skills. Yes, I took the reverse route because I was not brought up to be an actor. I am a computer engineer. I come from a family that feels education is required. Initially when I decided to change my profession, it was more like a break from what I was doing. But I got serious about it and then because I wanted to excel in it I started figuring out ways to learn the craft better. I did an item song in the film Corporate, which became very famous. I started getting a lot of offers for stage shows after that so I wondered how do I sustain myself for 10 minutes at a go on the stage. So I learnt Kathak after that. It has been a different journey for me. What appealed to you about your role in FOUR PLAY? Was it the seductive dance number? Frankly, it happened very quickly because Vandana had already put the cast together for the play. We were introduced by Lucky Morani, a common friend. I had expressed my desire to Lucky about being on stage. That's how I landed the role of Honey Bannerjee in FOUR PLAY. It has dance, and my role is of a sexy teacher who casues the comedy of errors. I had done such roles in films earlier. It was easy to tread the path. It was challenging to prepare myself for a real stage show though. I thought I would rather begin with something I am easy with. And then graduate to meaningful roles like the ones Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi do. I seek that gratification later on. Your item song in the play has become a talking point. Are you happy with it? It is not an item number because an item song is introduced to break the pattern in the story board. However, this is a dance performance. It is my entry point. It is a seductive number in a saree. It is between Rajesh Khattar and myself. I mistake rajesh's character for another person I am to seduce. It is my introduction song. A nice, luscious Sri Devi kind of number from the film Mr. India. Were you nervous on your first day on stage? How has the audience received your stage appearance? Theatre is a very time consuming medium. I have not done this kind of work even in films or in other shoots. There is the stress of not being able to go back for a retake!! I was a bit nervous during my first show and I had requested the light person to put the light on my face so that I don't see the eyes of the audience. I wanted a camera set up, which made me comfortable. I have given 100 per cent to each show but after the third show even the director told me that she liked my performance. I am gaining confidence about being around the stage and the audience, but every stage performance is a new experience and each time you have to give it your all. What are your forthcoming film and TV projects? I am shooting for the film Tees Takka with Boman Irani and Raima Sen soon. I am doing shows and I am reading some film scripts. For TV, I am in the process of negotiations. In this interim period I thought of doing theatre to add to my body of work and make it look stronger. *Deepa Ranade is a film and theatre reviewer. 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