Prithvi Theatre at 48: Mumbai venue keeps third-bell rule

A dustbin, an ashtray and the box-office shutter are among the first things Kunal Kapoor notices when he enters Prithvi Theatre. For Kapoor, upkeep is part of making the Mumbai venue welcoming before an audience arrives.

As Prithvi marks its 48th year during its festival, Kapoor and his son Zahan Kapoor described a theatre shaped by daily routines and a few fixed rules. The firmest is the third bell: once it rings, late entry is not allowed.

Kunal Kapoor said the rule applied to him when he and his daughter arrived a few minutes late for a play after travelling from south Mumbai. “It cannot be selective,” he said, calling it a matter of respect for performers, crew and audience members who arrived on time despite traffic and parking constraints.

A working stage, not a memorial

Kapoor traced the venue’s purpose to his grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor and the touring Prithvi Theatres company. He said the company staged productions on Partition, Hindu-Muslim harmony, corruption and money, and that his parents, Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal, later established the theatre Prithviraj had envisioned.

The family has been unable to locate a film Prithviraj made of the play *Paisa*, as well as the script of one of the company’s productions. Kapoor said he prefers a theatre that remains in use to one that functions only as a memorial.

Space remains the practical challenge

The auditorium’s scale is central to its appeal, but Kapoor said Prithvi needs better backstage facilities, storage and rehearsal space. Salt air, maintenance and limited room for equipment are part of the venue’s daily concerns.

Kapoor said ticket receipts go directly to performers’ accounts, while theatre groups contribute towards Prithvi’s running costs. The theatre does not seek advance deposits from groups, he added.

Zahan Kapoor first became involved in festival work after proposing a promotional teaser in 2012. He now contributes to its visual identity and online presence. He recalled a Symphony Orchestra of India concert in which a choir of 60 and about 20 chamber musicians fitted onto the small stage.

For the festival, the programming team looks for productions being staged in Mumbai for the first time, including works that have travelled elsewhere.