Kuljeet Singh could have gone down the pure academic route. Instead he is a star on the horizon sharing his talents with as many people as possible as well as continuing studies. Where there is a gloomy shortage of talented actors and writers, Kuljeet is one to watch. He is a lecturer, playwright and theatre festival finalist. Even more uniquely, Kuljeet is a Sikh actor who is a Gursikh. Baru Sahib and hundreds of teachers were privileged that Kuljeet and his colleague Ravi Shankar were teaching how drama can be used in teaching children.

Interview with Kuljeet Singh, Atelier Theatre Society, New Delhi

How did you get into theatre Kuljeet?

During my college years I studied a B.A. in Literature at Delhi University. There was a drama group in my university that I started attending. I had no inclinations towards acting. I just thought I'd do background work and get involved in production. When I started watching plays, I was drawn further and further into the process. I would watch plays, rehearse and participate in theatre festivals. This was a time when I started to see the theatre as a profession.

I studied further and went onto do M.A. and later an M.Phil. in Performance Studies from School of Arts and Aesthetics at JNU. I am currently teaching at Khalsa College.

Have you ever been interested in writing a novel with your background in English literature?

No, I never thought of that. My inclination was to write plays.

What have you written so far?

I have written two full length plays.

One is called 'Goodbye Blue Sky'. The other is 'Maarow, Baalo, Kaapo' (in Gujrati, kill, burn, hack) which was used to spread race hatred in the Gujrat riots.

I have written a short play, 'Ten minutes For Shakespeare' which has been selected by the Prithvi Theatre Festival, Mumbai. It is a look at Shakespeare appearing in today's world and seeing what people have done with his world of plays.

The second play is called 'Bhagat, Sajjan, Jagdeesh'.

Did it take you long to write?

'Goodbye Blue Sky' took me 18 months and I am still evolving it. One ten minute play took me a week.

Our interview got cut short due to the schedule Kuljeet was in, but I would like to thank Kuljeet for his frank and interesting insight into a unique profession and we'll talk again…Kuljeet is back in Baru Sahib in August for unique performances of drama with his theatre group…Many thanks to Kuljeet.