After more than two decades of friendship and a creative partnership that has shaped some of Indian theatre’s most memorable productions, Mahesh Manjrekar and veteran producer Ashvin Gidwani reunite with Animal, a stark and uncompromising new Hindi play. Years after their successful stage collaboration Double Deal, the duo returns with a work that is leaner, rawer and far more unsettling. Presented by AGP World, Animal is directed by and stars Manjrekar, and will premiere on 7th March at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai.
An intense, actor-driven piece, Animal explores the slow and often invisible erosion of the human spirit in the relentless pursuit of ambition. At its heart is Dattu, played by Mahesh Manjrekar — a young man from a small town near Pandharpur who arrives in Mumbai chasing stardom. What begins as hope and faith gradually turns into a quiet battle for survival. Alone on stage, Dattu speaks to the city, to imagined audiences and to his fractured conscience, blurring the lines between performance and confession.
Nearly nine years in the making, the play sees Mahesh Manjrekar take on the dual responsibility of director and performer, lending the production both urgency and vulnerability. Stripped of elaborate sets and ensemble support, the weight of the narrative rests entirely on his presence, voice and emotional intensity. Mumbai itself becomes an unseen yet powerful force — not shown through visuals, but evoked through sound, pace and pressure. The city does not seduce; it tests. Mahesh Manjrekar describes Dattu as an ordinary young man whose innocence is slowly peeled away through compromise, humiliation and rejection. “He doesn’t become an animal overnight,” he reflects. “It happens quietly.”
Produced by AGP World, known for acclaimed productions like Barff and Devdas – The Musical, Animal continues the company’s commitment to bold storytelling. With international interest already building, Mahesh Manjrekar starer play is poised for a global journey beyond its Mumbai premiere. Catch Animal on 7th March 2026 at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, from 7 pm onwards. Tickets are live on BookMyShow.
