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'.
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.