Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh University hosts ‘Dastak Theatre Festival 2025’
Celebrated Theatre & Film Veterans Himani Shivpuri, Rajendra Gupta, Makarand Deshpande, Vinay Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Durgesh Kumar & Kumud Among Star-Studded Line-up at CU’s Dastak Theatre Festival 2025
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, November 10, 2025: ‘Dastak Theatre Festival 2025, a five-day celebration of theatre, art and culture organized by Chandigarh University (CU) with the theme ‘A Knock on the Door of Emotions’, is rekindling the magic of live stage performances by bringing together India's most celebrated theatre and film veterans, emerging artists and passionate performers to explore the power of emotion and storytelling through stagecraft.
The Theatre Festival, which is being held across two venues at Chandigarh University and Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16 Chandigarh from 9 November to 13 November, features seven powerful plays over five days including six productions by some of India's most celebrated theatre and film veterans Himani Shivpuri, Rajendra Gupta, Makarand Deshpande, Vinay Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Durgesh Kumar (of Panchayat fame), Kumud Mishra, Rajinder Sharma Nanu, and Ajit Chowdhury along with one special presentation of a National Award-Winning play -- which won 1st position at Association of Indian Universities (AIU) National Youth Festival - by the students of Chandigarh University.
Organized by Chandigarh University’s Department of Art and Cultural Affairs, this festival was also be graced by renowned Actor and Singer Gurnam Bhullar, renowned Actress Sargun Mehta, founder of Anti Casting Vaibhav Vishant, Dharmedra Ojha and Abid Surti, along with eminent personalities from the Indian performing arts fraternity - Ashwini Chately, and Neelam Mann Singh, among others.
The grand inauguration ceremony of the Dastak Theatre Festival 2025 on Sunday was attended by renowned Punjabi singer Gurnam Bhullar and actor Rajendra Gupta as chief guests.
The festival opened with “Kaal Roopam” — a spellbinding national award-winning play -- based on real events that took place in 1985 in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh -- by Chandigarh University students which depicts the concept of transmigration of souls into another body.
It was followed by Suresh Bhardwaj’s play ‘Jina Isi Ka Naam Hai" – a story of the relationship between a doctor and a patient inspired by Arbuzov's original Russian play ‘Do You Somersault?’ -- performed by Bollywood's eminent actors Himani Shivpuri and Rajinder Gupta.
Film artists Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey attended the second day of the festival included the chief guests along with dignitaries including Pro Chancellor Chandigarh University Lucknow Campus, Damandeep Kaur Sandhu and Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, Deepinder Singh Sandhu.
The second day opened with the Sumeet Vyas directed play ‘Puraane Chawal’, featuring actors Kumud Mishra and Shubrajyoti Barat, which is Hindi adaptation of Neil Simon's classic ‘The Sunshine Boys’ about emotional journey of two retired comedy legends.
It was followed by directed comedy play, ‘Pati Gaye Re Kathiawaar’ – featuring actors Rajinder Sharma (Nanu) and Ajit Ajit Chowdhury – which explored themes of love, loyalty and gender inequality through the story of Janki, a beautiful and devoted wife of Sarjay Rao, the subedar of Pune.
Speaking on the occasion, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, Deepinder Singh Sandhu said, “Chandigarh University is making efforts to connect students with their history and culture, so that a curiosity is created in them to explore more about them. In addition to this, all types of performing arts like theatre are a necessity in professional education to help students relieve stress. So Chandigarh University gives vibrant platform to our students for the expression of creativity, talent, and innovation among our young minds so that they not only excel just academically but also in cultural pursuits. By dominating at national level festivals and competitions, Chandigarh University won the Overall Championship Trophy at the 38th Inter University National Youth Festival-2024-25 organized by the AIU. Chandigarh University is the only private University in India to win AIU’S Overall Trophy three times in five years. We remain committed to fostering creativity and shaping individuals who will contribute significantly to society,”.
Besides a book launch by founder of Anti Casting Vaibhav Vishant, Dharmedra Ojha and Abid Surti, the third day of the Festival on 11 November will include Durgesh Kumar directed play “Thes” (hurt), a sensitive story about Sirchan Rai, a poor but self-respecting man, which shows that a person can live without food, but cannot tolerate insult.
On 12 November, the fourth day of the festival will feature Rajat Kapoor directed play, Nothing Like Lear’, featuring Vinay Kapoor and Rajat Kapoor, which is a moving, absurd, and deeply human exploration of grief, love, and laughter.
The closing day of the festival on 13 November will feature play “Gandhi’ in which acclaimed theatre artist Makarand Deshpande will present a powerful solo act that re-imagines Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy through the lens of contemporary society.