Manasi Parekh on World Theatre Day: “Theatre has shaped me in ways I can’t quantify”

On the occasion of World Theatre Day, actor Manasi Parekh reflected on the lasting impact of theatre on her craft and personal growth, describing it as a formative space that continues to shape her artistic journey.

Known for her work across films, OTT and stage, Parekh highlighted how live performance remains central to her evolution as an actor.

 One of the key milestones in her theatre career has been performing her Gujarati musical Maro Piyu Gayo Rangoon in London, an experience she credits for connecting her with international audiences and reinforcing the universality of storytelling.

Speaking about the influence of theatre, Parekh said, "As a person, theatre has shaped me in more ways than I can even quantify."

 She elaborated on the hands-on nature of the medium, adding, "It teaches you to be self-reliant. It teaches you to believe in less is more because you travel with a small group of people and you literally have to be involved in every aspect of the production, from figuring out clothes for everybody to helping set up the props and making sure your cues are in place."

She also emphasised the collaborative spirit of theatre. "

You know, so you're always a part of a community. You're helping each other. Nobody really is just there only for themselves. They're there for the love of theatre," she said.

Highlighting the unpredictability of live performances, Parekh noted, "So, it always teaches you to think on your feet.

 If there are some errors that some member does, some actor does on stage, how to figure that out spontaneously. So, it teaches you to think very quickly and to always have a solution for any problem that comes up."

Parekh has featured in projects such as URI: The Surgical Strike, Kutch Express and the series Maharani, and is next set to appear in Chumbak on Netflix.