I am a Kashmiri,I did my graduation in science from Kashmir university.
After that I went to National School Drama, working as an amateur theater person for a year or so. Then I joined National School of Drama in 1977. After completing my graduation from NSD, I
got fellowship of academy. For one and a half years I did research on theoretical art forms based in Kerala.
During that time So I was doing workshops and theater and directorial shows in most of the languages which were not my mother tongue. I did my first play in Malayali and Marathi.
My father was a theater personality . He was the best writer we had in Kashmir. He won Sahitya Academy Award as well as Padmashri for his contribution in Kashmiri theatre.
He was my inspiration during my college days. After that, I used to be in touch with him and work on the theatre
form which he was passionate about. It is called Bhand Panther .
A folk theatre very popular in Kashmir in older times.

My father was the one who brought it back to life. And I also worked with him for sometimes, I used to do workshops with him.
But then after traveling in rest of India and seeing the level of theatre in other places, other I realised that is my calling. I went to Lucknow as a teacher of theater and dramas acting for three years. Then I went to Mumbai. I joined as associated Director and started working on television serials .

Meanwhile trouble was brewing in Kashmir, there was a politics turmoil and most Kashmiri pandits were displaced .
So from 1990 to 2005.
The artists were threatened and some were even killed.

As told to Toufiq Rashid
To be continued