Following its recent premiere at Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium earlier this May, Aadyam Theatre—an initiative by the Aditya Birla Group—is bringing its second production of the season, Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala, home to Mumbai. Directed by Mohit Takalkar, the play is a localized adaptation of Sarah Ruhl’s internationally acclaimed Dead Man’s Cellphone, reimagined to reflect the distinct rhythm and texture of Mumbai.
The Narrative: A Ringing Phone & A Shared Secret
The story unfolds inside a small Mumbai café, where Asha Parekh, a struggling actress from Surat who works as a waitress, experiences an unexpected afternoon. When a man sitting nearby passes away, his mobile phone begins to ring persistently, prompting Asha to answer it.
What begins as an instinctive choice quickly draws her into the lives he left behind—a world of fragile truths, shifting identities, and unexpected connections. As Asha continues to take his incoming calls, she begins to speak in his place, offering comfort to his family, dodging questions, and inventing stories.
Through these borrowed conversations, she moves through a city that is simultaneously restless and intimate. The play journeys from crowded temples and narrow lanes to quiet seafronts, encountering people and situations that are awkward, strange, and darkly comic. With a narrator and live music shaping her journey, the production unfolds through fragments, rhythm, and memory. Beneath its humor lies a quiet reckoning of the roles we inhabit, showing how by losing herself in someone else’s life, Asha begins to confront her own.
5 Key Elements of the Production
- The Creative Leadership: The play is helmed by Mohit Takalkar, a widely regarded theatre director, film editor, and playwright with a distinguished body of work spanning over two decades and more than 35 plays.
- The Ensemble Cast: The production features a dynamic cast led by Dilnaz Irani in the role of Asha Parekh, performing alongside seasoned actors Vrajesh Hirjee, Faezah Jalali, Sagar Deshmukh, and Bhaskar Sharma.
- Live Musical Score: Moving away from a traditional dialogue-only delivery, the play utilizes a dedicated narrator and live music to score Asha’s physical and emotional journey through the city.
- A Localized Adaptation: While based on a global script, the text has been tailored specifically to the geography, pulse, and cultural nuances of Mumbai, making the protagonist’s journey highly familiar.
- Contemporary Themes: The performance balances entertainment with a thought-provoking exploration of modern digital attachments, isolation, and the stories people create to find a sense of belonging.
Director’s Perspective
“It has been a while since I directed something this playful. When I came across Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cellphone, I was immediately drawn to its absurdity that also carries a hint of tenderness. So, Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala felt like a gift. While it is funny and chaotic on the surface, it quietly explores how we search for connection, forgiveness, and belonging – sometimes in the most unexpected ways.”
— Mohit Takalkar, Director
📅 Mumbai Performance Schedule
The Mumbai run is split across two weekends in May and July, traveling to venues in both the suburbs and South Mumbai.
Bandra Schedule (May)
- Dates: May 30th & May 31st, 2026
- Venue: Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Bandra West
Worli Schedule (July)
- Dates: July 25th & July 26th, 2026
- Venue: Nehru Centre, Worli
Tickets for the upcoming performances can be reserved through official online ticketing platforms.
