Amitabh, Nawazuddin celebrate World Theatre Day with throwback pictures

The connection between Hindi cinema and theatre is a very old one. From the times of Prithviraj Kapoor, the stage has often shaped the skills of actors who have shone on screen. On World Theatre Day, Amitabh Bachchan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui paid tribute to their varying experiences while amateurs, on the stage.

While Bachchan is undoubtedly a legend in Hindi cinema, he has never been cited as a stage actor. However, it seems that the veteran honed his skills at a very young age by participating in plays in school. The actor shared a picture of himself performing on stage for the school's annual play 'The Happiest Days Of Your Life'.

Dressed in all black as the principal of a school, Bachchan seems to have been part of the 1950s comedic play by John Dighton. A strange co-incidence lies in the fact that one of Bachchan's much praised performance at the beginning of the millenium came as a strict school principal in Mohabbatein (2000)

At the other end of the spectrum was Nawazuddin Siddiqui. True to his earthy roots, the actor posted a picture of himself playing a part in the Bharud form of play-acting. This was his first play in Maharashtra, performed in 1995.

A lanky Siddiqui can be seen second from right, wearing a green turban, while his fellow actors follow the play. The actor tweeted his wish to "rejuvenate all d gold & traditional forms like Gondhal, Jagran, Kirtan, Bharud, Dashavatar, Powada & lot many others."

The Bharud tradition of folk theatre is the second most popular form of theatre in Maharashtra, following the Tamasha. Incidentally, the actor is set to play Balasaheb Thackeray, a prominent political strategist in Maharashtra, in an upcoming biopic.

It looks like these actors were truly shaped in their young age by the stage.