Vidisha Srivastava is all set to bring her comic timing from television to the live stage with the upcoming Hindi theatre comedy Saali Poori Ghar Waali. The family entertainer brings together popular names from Indian television and comedy, including Upasana Singh, Yogesh H Tripathi, Vidisha Srivastava and writer director Naveen Bawa. The play is scheduled to premiere on August 30.
Interestingly, Vidisha revealed that the title initially left her rather surprised. Talking about her first reaction, the actor admitted that she was unsure whether a play with such a bold and quirky title would be socially acceptable. However, everything changed as soon as she heard the script and discovered the unusual twists hidden behind the characters.
“I was actually quite scandalized at first—thinking, "What kind of name is this?" I wondered how socially acceptable a play titled Shaadi Poori Gharwali would be. But when I heard the script—it was amazing. Truly amazing. Even though there is a saali (sister-in-law) character, she isn't quite a saali, and the biwi (wife) isn't quite a biwi either. You’ll have to watch the play to find out why, but the script is brilliant—it’s very funny. That’s why the title Shaadi Poori Gharwali suits the play so perfectly.”
That mystery surrounding the characters appears to be one of the major attractions of the production. Rather than revealing exactly what makes the saali and biwi different from what audiences expect, Vidisha believes viewers should experience the twists themselves. Her description also hints at the kind of playful misunderstandings and unexpected situations that will drive the comedy.
The actor also spoke about the importance of timing when performing comedy, particularly on stage where there is no retake. According to Vidisha, the strength of the play lies largely in its writing, which gives the actors a solid foundation for their performances.
“The script is so well-written that we didn't have to struggle much with the work itself. Naveen wrote a fantastic script. There are only four characters, yet each one holds immense significance; every character is equally important—no one is overshadowed, and no one dominates excessively.”
The four-character format allows each performer to remain central to the story rather than having one character dominate the narrative. Vidisha believes this balance makes the comedy more engaging, especially because every character has an important role to play in the unfolding domestic chaos.
The actress also highlighted the comedy experience shared by the cast. “Of course, we all come from a comedy background—Naveen wrote it himself—so you’re going to have a great time watching it,” she said. She further teased the chemistry between the performers, suggesting that their familiarity with comedy has helped make the rehearsals particularly enjoyable.
Vidisha also shared a light-hearted moment while talking about her co-star Yogesh H Tripathi, popularly known as Happu Singh from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!. “Our comic timing is fantastic—mine and Thappu’s (or whatever you want to call him—Thappu, Happu... [laughs]). You’ve seen our timing before, alongside actors like Upasna-ji and Naveen; we really enjoyed the chemistry and timing during rehearsals.”
The play brings together some very familiar faces from Indian television comedy. Upasana Singh is known for her work on Comedy Nights with Kapil, while Yogesh H Tripathi has become a household name through his popular portrayal of Happu Singh. Vidisha Srivastava is widely recognised for playing Anita Mishra, fondly known as Gori Mem, in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!. Naveen Bawa, meanwhile, takes on multiple responsibilities as the play’s writer, director and performer.
Saali Poori Ghar Waali is designed as a family-friendly situational comedy revolving around marriage, household relationships, misunderstandings and the kind of domestic confusion that can quickly turn an ordinary situation into complete chaos. With only four characters driving the story, the play promises to rely heavily on performances, chemistry and comic timing.
With Vidisha Srivastava already calling the script “brilliant” and teasing characters that are not quite what they appear to be, the play has plenty of mystery along with its comedy. Add the collective experience of its television comedy stars and Naveen Bawa’s writing and direction, and Saali Poori Ghar Waali looks ready to give theatre audiences an entertaining evening.
The play premieres on August 30, bringing its mix of marriage, misunderstandings, laughter and live comedy to the stage.