Harleen Kaur Rekhi is in love with theatre

Harleen Kaur Rekhi, known for her character Mandodari in Shrimad Ramayana, is now winning hearts playing Mata Sita in the stage production Humare Ram, starring Ashutosh Rana as Ravana. A passionate theatre artiste, Harleen has performed in over 60-70 plays since 2011, after graduating from Shri Ram Centre, Mandi House, a place she fondly calls her ‘first school’ of acting.

Sharing the stage with veteran actor Ashutosh Rana, Harleen describes the experience as ‘incredible and mesmerising’. She recalls, “Seeing him since childhood, he has always been an idol. Every day, every time I step on stage with him, it’s a new experience altogether.” She praises Rana for his powerful command over Hindi and the magnetic aura he brings to the stage. Despite the rise of screen-basedentertainment, Harleen remains a fierce advocate of theatre. “Theatre is, and will always be, my first school. It stays with you till your last breath,” she asserts. “It’s a beautiful art form — there are no retakes, and the joy of receiving instant reactions from a live audience is incomparable,” she adds.

Recalling emotional moments from Humare Ram performances, Harleen shares, “An elderly couple once came on stage with tears in their eyes, touching my feet and offering me prasad.

Lifestyle