Trying to smuggle education in garb of entertainment: Agashe

New Delhi: Celebrated theatre personality Mohan Agashe said although he is no master when it comes to acting, he is still trying to smuggle education in the garb of entertainment. 

The 69-year-old actor, who was addressing a Master Class at the National School of Drama, said it took him a while to realise how his education in psychology and theatre go hand-in-hand.

“After I officially retired as director-professor of Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health, I wanted to change my profession, from a doctor to a smuggler. I am trying to smuggle education in the garb of entertainment,” Agashe said. 

“It is because what is available in the open market did not have any quality. And everyone knows smuggled goods have always been rich in quality,” he added. 

The veteran actor, well known for his portrayal of Nana Phadnavis in Vijay Tendulkar’s Marathi play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ in 1976, drew a parallel with current education system, where he asserted that the learning approach must transform, as in the real world it doesn’t imply. 

Agashe said he finds himself more equipped and competent to deal with situations, both as an actor and a person, because of innumerable experiences in theatre. 

“By doing theatre and films, I have been consciously and unconsciously trained to focus on the subtext. As an actor, when you say your lines in theatre, you have to communicate what is not apparent, that is, the emotion.” 

The actor believes theatre teaches the art of empathy and compassion. 

Agashe also compared the “extra-curricular” activities taught in school to those “wings that are clipped” as soon as the child graduates. 

The actor also said acting as an extra-curricular activity personally helped him a lot. 

“My acting proved extremely useful to me in coping with my studies and reality. You know how to behave like a prince even if you are a pauper. This is how acting benefits you,” Agashe said.