Manu Rishi Chadha remembers Old Delhi’s Ramlila stage and food trails

Manu Rishi Chadha once played a vanar on the Ramlila stage while his family sat in the audience, applauding. The actor-writer, who was born and brought up in Old Delhi, says he still misses the annual outings to watch Ramlila with his family.

He performed with the Shri Dharmic Leela Committee and the Shri Sanatan Dharm Leela Samiti, and said he hopes to return to Delhi to watch Ramlila again. This season, the city’s productions range from a 3D staging at Netaji Subhash Place to handmade sets at Mandi House.

Chadha was recently in Delhi with Window Tak Aashiqui for the IHC Theatre Festival 2026. The play is set in Delhi and draws on its food and neighbourhood memory. He named Nand’s chhole bhature, Nathu’s chowmein in Bengali Market, Karim’s, Lotan ke chhole, Dariba Corner jalebis and Natraj dahi bhallas among the places and dishes he returns to.

While filming Rajma Chawal in Old Delhi, Chadha and Rishi Kapoor shared several of those food stops. Chadha also had one request for local theatre audiences: “Time se aajaya karo, yaar!”