The thought-provoking solo play Besharam Aadmi, written and directed by Vijay Ashok Sharma and performed by actor-producer Amol Parashar, makes its much-anticipated return to Delhi this weekend. The performance will take place at 9 Dhan Mill, Chattarpur on November 21 and 22, 2025, marking another milestone in the play's successful journey across multiple Indian cities.
The Story Behind the Performance
At its core, Besharam Aadmi presents a disarmingly simple yet profoundly relatable story. The 75-minute solo performance follows a recently married man who considers himself progressive and confident in the life he has built with his partner. However, his worldview begins to unravel during a single, awkward moment when his parents visit.
The trigger occurs during a routine domestic chore - doing laundry, specifically when handling his wife's lingerie. This simple act of equality, which he normally champions without hesitation, suddenly becomes a source of discomfort and introspection. This fleeting moment sparks a deep, spiraling self-inquiry that forms the emotional core of the performance.
Director Vijay Ashok Sharma revealed that the play originated from his personal experience. "I am a married man and when my parents visited our home in Bengaluru, for the first time I felt a moment of hesitation while doing a household chore that I regularly do," Sharma shared. "This play is an exploration to reach a conclusion behind that hesitation."
Connecting with Audiences Nationwide
The play has slowly built its reputation through nearly 20 shows across cities including Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Delhi NCR. According to both Sharma and Parashar, the universal appeal of the story has been the key to its success.
"At least within your culture, within your geography, something deeply personal is universal at that level," Sharma explained, emphasizing why he converted his personal experience into a theatrical production. "I knew that people are going to resonate with it and it is a contemporary story."
Parashar, who was planning to work on another solo show when he first heard the script, immediately connected with the material. "I clicked with the story instantly. It was unexpected and humourous in a very real way and something I resonated with personally," Parashar recalled. "If I hadn't told people Vijay wrote it, they would easily assume it was mine."
Varied Audience Reactions and Creative Challenges
The touring experience has revealed how different cities respond uniquely to the same performance. While the play generally receives warm receptions, the team noticed particularly interesting reactions in Noida.
"I noticed that the people were enjoying the show but they were hesitant to fully let go," Parashar observed about the Noida audience. This contrasted sharply with their previous performance at the India Habitat Theatre Festival, where they received their biggest reception ever.
Sharma believes venue expectations play a significant role in audience reactions. "In Noida, we performed at a space that is more associated with stand-up comedy. Their inbuilt audience might have come expecting the rhythm of a stand-up comedy. Therefore a play — even a funny one — lands differently," he explained.
The creative partnership between Sharma and Parashar has evolved through multiple drafts, rehearsals, and conversations. Parashar describes the process as similar to marriage: "You will have conflicts and have differences of opinions and we will have to find a way out of it. And we both know that we are always arguing for what's best for our show."
For Parashar, the biggest challenge has been memorizing 75 minutes of material without any co-actors or prompters to rely on. Meanwhile, the minimal set design - featuring just a bench, a tree, and a frame with hanging clothes - ensures nothing comes between the audience and the powerful story.
The play continues to spark important conversations about gender politics, domestic equality, and personal conditioning, making its return to Delhi a significant cultural event for theatre enthusiasts and those interested in contemporary social issues.
