The greatest religion of all: Mahipal Dhati on playing Kayasth in Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein

Post Views: 16

Mumbai: Mahipal Dhati who has been a part of movie like Ikkis is all set to play the role of Kayasth in the play Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein, a part he enjoys because it is nothing like him. “This character is somewhat sycophantic. He wants to stay on good terms with both the King and the merchants. He is the Kotwal; he doesn’t want to mess with anyone, nor does he want to invite enmity with Kabir,” he said.

“He is the kind of person who likes to act as if he has close acquaintances with the police station in-charge or the MLA,” he added.

The hard part was the body language. “The most challenging part for me was that his body language is very sharp, whereas personally, I am not that kind of person. In my life, I have seen many people who play this kind of character. They feel they are very smart, even though personally they aren’t, but deep down they want to maintain that kind of attraction among people and become the center of power, even if they lack the actual potential,” he shared. “Adapting to the sharp and sycophantic body language of the Kotwal was the primary challenge since it completely contrasts with my own personality,” he added.

Life around him offered reference points. “Personally, I am not a sharp or sycophantic person like the Kotwal, as I do not share those traits. However, observing such personalities around me helped me bring the character to life,” he said. What he takes home goes beyond acting. “It has been a great experience, and I am enjoying playing this role immensely. Kabir’s couplets (dohe) and the deeper meanings of his life are very inspiring. Whether Hindu or Muslim, or of any religion, seeing a human being through the lens of pure humanity is the greatest religion of all. That has been the biggest impact on me,” he said.

“Viewing humanity above all religious divisions recognizing and treating a human being simply as a human being is the highest religion,” he added. That, he feels, is why it speaks to today’s generation. “Today, we see conflicts and fights happening all around the world in the name of religion,” he said. “Figures like Kabir give us the message that we must rise above religion and move towards humanity, looking at every human being simply as a human being,” he added.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------