Vibhu Kaushik (L) and Ritesh Asthana who are lovers in the play, were very hesitant to play the characters, initially (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)

Kuldeep Singh and Prateek Shukla in a kissing scene from the play (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)

Ankita Dixit, Saransh Bhatt and Privendra Singh (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)

Tripti Singh, Vinay Kumar Mishra and Abeer (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)

A Hindi stage adaptation of the Jake Gyllenhaal-Heath Ledger starrer Brokeback Mountain , that was staged in Lucknow on Wednesday evening at BNA auditorium, witnessed a full house. The adults-only play, a one-of-its-kind staged in the city, was directed by BNA alumnus Saaransh Bhatt with actors Prateek Shukla, Kuldeep Singh Gusain, Ritesh Asthana and Vibhu Kaushik playing the two key characters Mahesh and Jagdish in different ages. With bold scenes and the characters enacting each and every scene portrayed in the movie, including the intimate ones enacted by Ledger and Gyllenhaal in the original film, the play proved to be a rather bold step for city artists.Vibhu Kaushik (L) and Ritesh Asthana who are lovers in the play, were very hesitant to play the characters, initially (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)Director’s cutAsk Saaransh, an engineer, who is now into direction of plays, why he choose to stage such a play in Lucknow and he says, "The story of the movie is about emotions and not any particular place so it was easy to give it an Indian touch. The sensibility of people in Lucknow related to the LGBTIQ community has grown in leaps and bounds, especially with the series of events involving the community taking place here. So it was an apt time to stage such a play here. Theatre was the only medium left untouched for the LGBTIQ movement. Theatre is the best medium I guess, to sensitise people on the issue."He adds, "Even though we are staging such a play in Lucknow, we haven’t compromised on the content. There are several intimate scenes in the play but they are being portrayed in a subtle way. Although plays on transgenders have been staged in Lucknow in the past, this is for the first time a play on homosexuality was staged here and with such bold scenes."Kuldeep Singh and Prateek Shukla in a kissing scene from the play (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)Getting their ‘act’ rightThe play required the actors playing the protagonists Mahesh and Jagdish to kiss and indulge in close contact on stage in front of a large audience. The two characters, portrayed by Prateek Shukla as the older Mahesh and Ritesh Asthana playing his younger version, and Kuldeep Singh Gusain as the older Jagdish and the younger one played by Vibhu Kushik, made it difficult for the actors to enact those scenes initially. Prateek Shukla, a BSc graduate who played the grown-up Mahesh says he was scared to play a gay character. "I was quite hesitant to portray a gay character in front of so many people. I somehow wasn’t able to convince myself to play the part. And when I heard that I had to kiss another male actor on stage, I simply refused to do so. But then Saaransh made us do a 50-day workshop to make us feel comfortable playing these characters. During the workshop I interacted with several people of the LGBTIQ community in Lucknow and I was able to get into the skin of the character," says Prateek.Ritesh Asthana, who played a younger Mahesh, also wasn’t kicked about playing the character at first. "I was quite scared to be a part of such a bold play in Lucknow. Dead scared is the word! The whole time I was thinking ki log kya kahenge when they see me playing such a character. I was quite nervous till the last day, but somehow managed to pull the act,"" he shares.Vibhu Kaushik, pursing BA from Lucknow University , as the younger Jagdish, echoes the same views and says, "“While initially I was not sure if I should play such a character that too in Lucknow, but after interacting with the LGBTIQ, all my fears were allayed and I was able to relate to them. It was then easy for me to do justice to my character. My whole perspective about the community has changed after doing this play."Ankita Dixit, Saransh Bhatt and Privendra Singh (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)Tripti Singh, Vinay Kumar Mishra and Abeer (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)People’s viewDarvesh Singh Yadavendra, the man responsible for the LGBTIQ movement in Lucknow, was among the first ones to reach the venue. “Ever since I got to know about the conceptualisation of the play, I have been promoting it as much as I can. Theatre was the only medium left where we hadn’t done anything to sensitise people about our community. I am really happy to see that so many people have turned up to see the play. I wasn’t sure if people will be interested in watching such a bold play but people of Lucknow have really changed for the good,” said an elated Darvesh.Ashfaq Khan (name changed on request), a collegian studying in Dubai, who came for his friend who was acting in the play, was surprised to see the turnout at the play. “Frankly speaking, I wasn’t expecting so many people at this event. I am just here to support my friend who is playing a key character. Also, I was shocked to see the content of the play. It was quite bold. Interestingly, it was well-received by the spectators, who cheered and clapped on several scenes."