Minnisha Lamba: I am playing 13 characters in my debut play

Minissha Lamba who will be debuting stage with Saif Hyder Hasan’s 'Mirror Mirror' early next week, and she is all excitement, along with a healthy tinge of nerves. Touted to be a psychological roller-coaster ride, the play will see her in multiple roles for 75 minutes on stage.
Ahead of her debut, she speaks with Bombay Times about theatre, her essaying 13 characters, how she transitioned from films to TV to now stage.Excerpts…
Did you always want to do theatre? Or did it just happen, considering that you do not have any theatre background at all…
Theatre came into my life by chance. It’s something that I always knew I would do. But it needed the right project for me to grab on hungrily. Also, I felt what's better than getting to debut my first play with acclaimed director Saif Hyder Hasan and produced by one of India’s premiere theatre production house AGP World. I don’t have any background in theatre. With Mirror Mirror my journey has begun and I am in love with this medium already.
How different is stage from movies? Do you feel that this is tougher?
Both mediums are tough in their own ways. I am doing a daily television show and that’s another challenge in itself. With theatre, you get to make changes in your performances with every show. Experiment with new things and see what works best and what doesn’t. But yes, once you are on the stage it's one take - unlike movie shoots.
A seventy-minute solo act - how tough was it? Did you strategize ways to you’re your performance better?
It was and still is extremely difficult. Every time before a rehearsal or show, I tell myself, that for the next 75 mins my mind can’t wander even for a moment. During rehearsals I would always encourage everyone around me to answer their phones, walk in and out during a full run through, so that hearing a phone ring, or seeing people moving about in my line of sight wouldn’t unnerve me. But Saif Sir’s guidance and the team’s support has been a great help and made the process enjoyable.

Playing multiple roles with no respite like movies, no ‘cut’ breaks etc - was it exhausting?
Ohh yes, but challenging too! And that, I feel is very important for any actor. I am playing 13 characters in the play - from essaying the role of children to the parents, husband...
There comes a point at the end of the 6th scene, which is a tipping point for my voice. Pacing myself from there onwards is the challenge.
Excited about your show?
I’m looking forward to my debut show in Mumbai on Oct 1. I am very excited that my first show of Mirror Mirror will be in the prestigious TATA Theatre, NCPA!