Geetika Tyagi was introduced to poet and novelist Amrita Pritam’s works at an early age, thanks to her parents and grandmother. Today, as she portrays the poet in the play, Ek Mulaqat — based on the unrequited love between Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi — she believes she manifested the opportunity. “There are some strong female figures who have influenced me growing up, and one of them has been Amrita Pritam. This role found me,” says Tyagi.
(L-R) Shekhar Suman and Geetika Tyagi in the play. Pics/X, Instagram
The play, in its original 2014 run, had Deepti Naval portraying Pritam to Shekhar Suman’s Ludhianvi. Tyagi says she brought her own interpretation to the role. “I went back to her poetry, writings, and watched her old interviews. I paid attention to her voice and her silences. I also read her private letters.” The actor also met Naval before her play premièred on May 31. Tyagi adds, “I’m a huge fan of Deeptiji’s craft. So, there was a conviction that I’d get to know something from her. She had recited a couple of poems in Punjabi in the original version. We aren’t doing that here. Her Amrita is different from mine. Deeptiji shared that she met Amrita Pritam a few times. She also shared her take on Imroz, and the love story of Amrita and him.”