Theatre veteran Bharat Dabholkar is returning to the stage with something quite different from the humorous plays and satires he has been associated with over the years. His new psychological thriller Jigsaw, featuring just Bharat and actress Damini Chopra, unfolds through a seemingly casual conversation that gradually takes increasingly unsettling turns. As the play heads to multiple shows at Mumbai’s NCPA, Bharat opened up about the unusual format, the challenges of keeping audiences engaged with just two actors and the twists that keep the mystery alive until the very end.
Explaining what makes Jigsaw different, Bharat said, “It’s an 80-minute play. In the final 35 to 40 minutes, the dynamic shifts in every scene. You might think, ‘Okay, this character has gained the upper hand,’ but then the very next scene changes the situation entirely. Right up until the final scene, the audience remains unsure about what exactly is unfolding or what has just happened.” He added that the constantly shifting dynamics are at the heart of the production. “That is its unique feature; we’ve done plenty of humorous plays, satires, and children's plays before, but this is something different—we’ve never done a play quite like this.”
Bharat, who has written and directed more than 30 plays including the Bottoms Up series, Oh No! Not Again!! and Blame It on Yashraj, also pointed out that Jigsaw stands apart from many of the thrillers audiences usually encounter on stage. “Its strength lies in how completely distinct it is from our previous work and from the typical plays staged these days—whether they are horror or murder mysteries. You don't often see plays with these kinds of twists and turns,” he said.
Another unusual aspect of Jigsaw is its extremely intimate cast. Unlike productions where a large ensemble, elaborate sets, music or dance sequences keep the stage constantly moving, this psychological thriller depends almost entirely on the performances of its two actors. Bharat explained, “When there are many actors or a massive set—like in our other productions featuring LED screens, 10–12 actors, and a dozen dancers—responsibilities are shared. There’s constant movement on stage—entrances, exits, dance sequences, or musical interludes—giving the audience plenty of spectacle and entertainment.”
He continued, “The challenge with a play like this one is that it’s just the two of us on stage from the first scene to the last. It’s just two people talking; it’s not an action movie with fight sequences or anything like that. Two people come and simply stand there talking for 75 to 80 minutes; sustaining that is very difficult. Nothing else happens—there are no set changes, no costume changes. It relies entirely on attitude.” Bharat also revealed that the format was a challenge for him personally, saying, “The audience doesn't know who these two people are—they are strangers who have entered a home and are sitting there chatting casually. As the conversation unfolds and shifts occur, it is hard for the audience to guess what is happening or who these characters are. It was a challenge for us too—I had never performed in a play with only two characters before—but she is a fine actor, so she handles it all beautifully.”
Produced by Ashvin Gidwani, Jigsaw follows a rain-soaked evening when a chance encounter introduces a mysterious stranger named Ranvijay into the story. What begins as an ordinary conversation gradually unravels into a web of hidden truths, painful betrayals and unexpected connections. With Bharat Dabholkar and Damini Chopra carrying the entire play on their shoulders, Jigsaw aims to make the audience question what they are seeing—and keep them guessing until the final scene.