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In an exclusive conversation with DC, actor Jaya Bhattacharya opens up about the evolving theatre culture in India, the challenges artists face behind the scenes, and why her character Zeenat in Kaneez is the most moving role of her career. Talking to Jaya is like standing in a warm beam of truth—she laughs, reflects, and refuses to sugarcoat anything, speaking with the ease of someone who has seen enough life to stop pretending.

Asked about the current theatre scene, she doesn’t hesitate. “The theatre scene in India has improved a lot. Earlier, people had to be pushed to come watch plays. Now you have musicals happening and audiences actively wanting to attend. It’s a welcome change,” she says.

For Jaya, this revival isn’t just about performances—it’s about dignity. “Theatre artists hardly ever got paid. How would revival happen? Rehearsals take time, travel takes time… there should be proper compensation so they can live with ease.” She recalls meeting brilliant performers who were “trudging along,” their passion intact but their livelihood fragile. “That used to pain me,” she admits. Has anything changed? “Not completely, but there has been continuous progress. Earlier actors weren’t even held in high esteem. Today, everyone wants to be an actor.”

Her own journey was never driven by desperation. “I have always been har funn maula—if I felt like doing it, I did. If not, I didn’t,” she shrugs, recalling how she was warned, manipulated, and even threatened early on. “Many years ago, a well-known producer said, ‘Tujhe Mumbai mein rehne nahi dunga.’ I was naive, it hurt. But then I thought—how does it matter to anyone whether I live in Mumbai or not?” That moment shaped her understanding that craving can be dangerous. “If people who want to misuse you know your craving, you are dead. Always keep your head on your shoulders.”

Jaya recently took a short break after feeling boxed in. “After portraying Payal, everyone wanted to put me in the same frame. I felt stunted. I thought—let me re-evaluate whether I should still be here.” The pause helped. “After that, I got lovely characters. Back-to-back projects happened. I am grateful.”

Currently, she is immersed in Kaneez, her new musical, playing Zeenat—a character she has fallen in love with. “Zeenat is wholesome. She feels defeated but stands up for the next generation. She doesn’t want the girls under her to have the same fate,” she explains. Reflecting on real-life experiences, she says, “I saw the living conditions of women who had left the profession… near nalas, in dilapidated huts. My heart broke. How can you judge a woman who had no other option and was supporting her whole family?”

She adds, “Every human has a heart. Everyone has their parameters of good and bad. Nobody is brainless.” Her own life was shaped by unexpected turns—her father wanted her to become a classical vocalist and Kathak dancer, but acting became her path. “I discovered I was good at it and stayed. I have worked with Gulzar sir, Manoj Joshi sir… I didn’t even know half of who they were at that time. I was fortunate.”

Beyond fame, Jaya is driven by her NGO, Thank You Earth, which she has run for 25 years. “I rescue animals. I have 38 cats and dogs at the centre, seven seniors at home. I want to build a free 24×7 animal hospital. That’s what keeps me going.”

She smiles while talking about Kaneez, a musical love story and a soulful tribute to the legendary Meena Kumari, designed and directed by Randhir Ranjan Roy. The show is set for November 28 and 29 at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA. “I am happy doing Kaneez. The whole team is full of life and love. The vibes are like—chal, stage pe chalte hai!”

For Jaya, theatre keeps an actor honest. “Doing various mediums keeps us alive. We discover something new in every rehearsal. You can grow—you don’t remain stunted.”

Every line, memory, and truth she shares underlines one thing: Jaya Bhattacharya has survived the industry not by bending, but by standing firm. “I have lived on my own terms,” she says simply. “And I am grateful for everything that came my way.”