Actor, lyricist and playwright Piyush Mishra he recently revisited Delhi, returning to the city that played a key role in shaping his artistic career. During his visit, he stopped at the National School of Drama (NSD), but for the renowned theater veteran, it is the Mandi House that remains the deepest emotional meaning.Reflecting on his years in the capital, Piyush said, “Kaam kiya hai 3 saal wahan par, iske alaawa main 20 saal raha hoon Dilli mein. NSD se zyaada Mandi House mujhe pyaara hai. Mandi House mein 20 years, I have spent 20 long years working, working, doing theatre, jo haih uski bamein. bhayankar memories hain, matlab chhoti-moti memories nahi hain Wahan par har chappe mein, har zarre-zarre mein rehearsal ki hai maine. The Mandi house is like a pilgrimage for me.’For Piyush, his memories of Delhi are closely linked to his theater days, which he recalls as a time of immense passion and creativity. Looking back, he spoke fondly of his time at Bengali Market and the unique satisfaction he derived from theater work.“Bengali Market bada priy adda tha humara. Delhi ko ek hi tareeqe se miss karta hoon ki waisa wala kaam main dubaara nahi kar paaya jaisa maine wahan rehte hue kiya. 20 saal mein jo kaam kiya maine wahan par, no hope of going to cinema, no hope of money, in the main name, wa woh, wah woh bahut hi enthusiastic aur bahut hi productive kaam tha Uss kaam ki wajah se hi main hoon jo kuch bhi hoon. Matlab ab yahan aane ke baad itna jaldi kaam mil gaya mujhe cinema mein, kaaran yahi tha ki itna kaam karke aaya tha main. Toh memories jo hai kaam ki hi hain aur koi aisi koi romantic memories nahi hain meri. Woh alag baat hai ki meri biwi se meri wahin mulaqaat hui thi.”The actor’s visit also coincided with a personal milestone. Earlier this week, Piyush and his wife, Priya Narayanan, celebrated 31 years of marriage. Recalling the beginning of their love story, “Priya (Narayanan) padhti thi School of Planning and Architecture mein, ITO pe uska college tha. Wahan main 1992 mein play direct karne gaya tha. Unse mulaqaat hui, ishq ho gaya. Humne 1992 se 1995 tak date kiya aur 95 mein shaadi kar li.“Asked whether Delhi’s theater culture retains its vibrancy, Piyush expresses optimism. According to him, the passion for live performances is still alive and well among actors and theater lovers.“Hai hai, main jaata rehta hoon. Ab bhi log bhide hue hain. Bhale hi woh cinema ke laalach mein bhide hue hon, lekin engrossed hain woh log, lagaatar teatro kar rahe hain, achhi baat hai.”
