‘I am always on the go’
SONAM JAIN
|
Stage show, theatre or television, pop diva Sharon Prabhakar on how she straddles different genres.
|
Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup
Adrenaline rush: Sharon Prabhakar doing what she does best.
Nobody taught her to be Evita; but Sharon Prabhakar learnt and how! Constantly on the move, grabbing opportunities to reinvent herself, trying different things, she’s a great example for ‘living life to the fullest’. Her career has been, in her own words, “different, distinctive, revolutionary and path-breaking”.
In Hyderabad recently for a session of ‘Çelebrating Theatre’ series — held to mark the fourth year of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation, she shared the stage with Usha Ganguli from Kolkota and Mohammed Ali Baig from Hyderabad. She also took time out to speak to The Hindu. Excerpts from an interview.
How did you get started with theatre?
I came to Mumbai in the 1980s as a kid with stars in my eyes. My first play “Evita” fortunately was a runaway success running for five years; morning, afternoon and evening shows daily. The audience loved me and the critics hailed me. It was all just so wonderful. But, in retrospect, I wish success had come to me when I was older. I was naive then, and couldn’t take all the fame and glory. But all said and done, it was a great training ground and continues to be my first love. People still want me to sing ‘Evita’!
Talking of singing, tell us something about your singing career.
From theatre, I moved on to other things, of which singing was the primary one. My first playback was in 1987 for “Armaan”, and several others followed. But two years into playback, and I got smart. I realised that my identity was too strong. People wanted me and not just my voice.
That’s when I took up pop singing. Till then, people were used to Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle but it was different genre. Suddenly there I was, in my mini skirts, leather boots and bustier. It was an instant hit.
So has singing taken a backseat for you now?
Well, at that time, I was young and there was a burnout factor. I got married and had a daughter. Responsibilities increased and touring took a backseat. I couldn’t pursue it with the ferociousness that I did at first.
However, I did not completely give up. By my standards it was backseat, but given the standards of Indian women then, it was very much front seat! I even did “Dilruba”. Though I was disappointed with the marketing of that song, it was a beautiful piece. The video was awe-inspiring. It won the ‘New York Festival Silver’ award.
Do you think you will be going back to Indi-pop in the near future?
The pop industry is in doldrums; so there’s nothing to get back to! But I am still doing stage shows. I am hoping to create a pop canvas where I will be doing a huge concert every year in Mumbai, from this October. It will be a very razzmatazz affair with lights, dancers, great songs; you know, the works!
Other than these concerts, what else have you been up to?
I have just finished shooting 52 episodes of the “Yeh Tera Ghar, Yeh Mera Ghar”, which should be aired on Star Plus from this October. It’s revolutionary, quite different from the usual saas-bahu thing. I am doing a path-breaking role here. I have also started a public speaking academy. I do lectures, seminars and interactive sessions on corporate grooming, etiquette and public speaking.
Fingers in many pies! How do you manage it?
I am always on the go; I am sleep deprived and fatigue is my second name; but I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. Being a single parent in all this is also not easy, and sometimes I regret having walked away from all that I had. But then, this is life!
Of all the things that you do, what do you enjoy the most?
Singing-performing. The audience gives me an adrenaline high. It’s the performance factor that keeps me going.
What do you do in your free time; if and when you manage some?
My daughter Shazahn is a real force to be reckoned with, and I barely get any spare time with her around! But when I do get some, I am so spaced out that I just stare at a wall! Sometimes, I watch movies, and sometimes I zone out in silence.
Finally, your take on the state of theatre in India today.
I salute organisations like the Qadir Ali Baig Foundation for pursuing a legacy against all odds. In a community where Bollywood and Tollywood are larger than life, they keep theatre alive and kicking. There’s a lot of quality theatre happening in different parts of the country but it hasn’t really caught up as much as it could or should, and that’s mainly because of the cost factor. The day people are ready to pay Rs. 5000 to see a play; many of us would give up a lot of things to make a living in just theatre.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
