mumbai

About Prithvi Theatre :

To know about the theatre life, personalities and artists in Mumbai, a visit to the Prithvi Theatre is a must. Being one of the most famous and best theaters in Mumbai and also all over India, Prithvi Theatre offers an insight to the creativity that is being brewed here. Many prominent Indian actors have performed here and for many, this theater served as a launch pad. Overlooking the beautiful Juhu beach, Prithvi Theatre is one the main hubs for theatre enthusiasts. Presently, it is run by Sanjana Kapoor and her brother Kunal Kapoor, children of Shashi Kapoor, a great Bollywood actor and a descendent of the famous 'Kapoor Family' of the Hindi Film Industry. Sanjana Kapoor especially, has involved herself in the maintaining the high standards of the theatre. An active member of the theatre, Sanjana keeps innovating to enhance the creative talents of the students. She is also responsible for hosting the shows staged in Prithvi Theatre. Apart from the workshops, the 'Prithvi Cafe' and the 'Art gallery' are also worth a visit.

History of Prithvi Theatre

Prithvi Theatre was originally the brainchild of Prithviraj Kapoor, the pioneer of Indian cinema. He spent a lifetime anchoring the Indian cinema, and showed similar efforts towards drama as well. He founded 'Prithvi Theatres' in 1944, which originally consisted of 150 members and was set as a travelling troupe. The aim was to stage productions all across India. It debuted with "Shakuntala", a classical work, and later on presented about 2,662 plays. Prithviraj Kapoor always wanted to have a permanent theatre set up. He even succeeded in getting a land for lease in Juhu, but sadly, his health deteriorated, leading to his death in 1972. Years later, when the land was up for sale as the lease expired, Prithviraj Kapoor's son Shashi Kapoor and daughter-in-law Jennifer bought the land. Finally, the Prithvi Theatre was inaugurated on 5 November 1978.

Getting to Prithvi Theatre