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AN ACCLAIMED Bollywood actor will be touching down in the kingdom this month to entertain fans in a one-man play as part of SNEHA’s annual fundraising event run by the Indian Ladies Association (ILA).
The play, entitled Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, which means ‘anything can happen’, will be performed by Anupam Kher on November 16 at 7pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s Bahrain Conference Centre.
Mr Kher has appeared in nearly 470 films and 100 plays, not to mention the Oscar nominated movie Silver Linings Playbook.
Suvasini Srinivas, ILA president, read about his production and felt that it was time to bring live theatre back to the association’s fundraising calendar. She said: “It’s truly exciting because it has been around six to seven years since we last staged a play in Bahrain. It’s also a dream come true to have such a veteran actor and big celebrity in the Bollywood circle performing in Bahrain.
“I read about the play and suggested we bring him to the kingdom. He is, after all, the king of acting. He is one film star that can portray all emotions beautifully be it for a comedy, a tragedy or playing a father role. This one-act play is an autobiography highlighting how he grew up and became famous.
“People can expect two-and-half-hours of classic theatre. It is an experience of a life-time and an event not to be missed.”
Mr Kher has held the post of chairman of the Censor Board and National School of Drama in India. He was honoured with the Padma Shri, which is the fourth highest civilian award, by the government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema in 2004. Mr Kher has also won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times, more than any other actor.
His play is also being presented in association with Lulu Hypermarket. The Platinum Sponsor is International Agencies, the Diamond Sponsor is Crown Electro-Mechanical Services and the Gold Sponsors are Batelco, State Bank of India, APM Terminals and BEMCO. The official carrier is Jet Airways and radio partner, Your FM.
Tickets are priced at BD25 per head and BD15 per head. All proceeds from the play will go towards the SNEHA Centre in Manama, which was formed in 1987 as a gesture to provide some respite to the mothers of special needs children. Over the years it has grown from strength-to-strength and has become one of the most endearing ILA projects and the focal point of all its activities.
The centre celebrated its silver jubilee last year with 20 children on its roll, 25 dedicated volunteers and two qualified teachers to help the youngsters acquire skills in functional literacy, self-help skills, as well as arts and craft.
Admission is open to children of all nationalities and it is run free-of- charge, although SNEHA is funded solely through donations and fundraising programmes.
SNEHA children have participated in many sports events organised by the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation, Special Olympics Bahrain and the Cherry Tree Trot charity.
Since 2000, the children have been involved in an assisted art project in which the best creations throughout the year are selected to make the popular SNEHA greetings cards, already being snapped up for the festive season. More than 250,000 cards have been sold during the course of the last 10 years. The children have also made diyas (candle holders) for Diwali.
For further details, call 36670248, 39757329 or 36740095.
