Love, legacy and the stage: A theatre family across generations

Goa’s vibrant tradition of nataks and tiatrs continues to flourish across generations and carrying that legacy forward is one of its youngest stars six-year-old Bhumee Naik Narvekar.

Bhumee has already etched her name in the World Records Book of India after performing in seven consecutive shows of a Konkani play in a single day. On World Theatre Day we caught up with the young performer and her parents theatre artistes Rajdeep Naik and Suchita Naik Narvekar to talk about their shared passion for the stage.

Born into the spotlight

For Bhumee theatre wasn’t a choice; it was a way of life from the very beginning. “She was just four months old when I started taking her to rehearsals and shows. We had no option but to keep her with us at the theatre. While I performed on stage she would stay nearby. By the time she was six months old she would crawl onto the stage and we would simply adapt the scene” recalls Suchita. That early exposure soon turned into a remarkable journey. In May 2025 Bhumee made history by performing in all seven consecutive shows of the Konkani play Gavn Zala Zantto in a single day. Today she has already acted in over 500 shows.

Her creativity is just as impressive. “Sometimes she comes to us with ideas for scenes and how they can be turned into a play” says Rajdeep with a smile. Suchita adds laughing “And she always asks for roles with substance!”

A love story rooted in theatre

For Rajdeep and Suchita theatre is also the foundation of their relationship. They first met while working at Rajdeep’s production house founded in 1998. Suchita joined in 2000 and what began as collaboration soon blossomed into love. “We’ve always worked together and that naturally comes with debates” says Suchita. Rajdeep agrees adding “We don’t always see eye to eye creatively but we know how to convince each other. That’s been our journey.” After 18 years of being together the couple married in 2019. “We understand each other deeply and that reflects in our work” she says.

Bridging traditions with innovation

Goan theatre has long been divided between tiatrs largely popular among the Catholic community and nataks traditionally enjoyed by the Hindu community. Rajdeep and Suchita however saw an opportunity to bring the two forms together. Their experimental format tiatak blends elements of both traditions.

“We first explored the idea years ago after a conversation with Tomazinho Cardozo but it didn’t quite work then” Rajdeep explains. “Later we refined it by collaborating with tiatr artistes for music and comedy and audiences from all communities embraced it.” Their production Kanni Novya Yugachi (Story of the New Age) inspired by the National Education Policy marked a significant step in this direction. Another play Ganv Zala Zantto which addresses the Mhadei issue even took their work to the UK.

The stage as a powerful medium

For the family theatre is more than entertainment; it is a powerful tool for storytelling and social change. “Theatre is one of the most important and effective mediums we have” says Suchita as the family prepares to leave for yet another performance. And leading the way with boundless energy and imagination is little Bhumee proving that the future of Goa’s theatre tradition is already in capable hands.

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