Ara ra ra Ketki Dave brings her humorous play to Dubai

Her name is synonymous with the punchline ara ra ra, a line that became her trademark after her character, Dakshaben, first delivered it in a typical Gujarati fashion on the mega-popular Indian television soap, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She also had audiences in stitches when she spewed the line in the hit Bollywood comedy, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya, to much effect. Needless to say, the expression became so popular that soon she was being referred to as ara ra ra Ketki. The veteran of stage, TV and movies, Ketki Dave, is now bringing her fun-filled Gujarati play, Tare Man Hu - Mare Man Tu, to Dubai this Friday at Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, The Indian High School. We speak to the actress to know more about the play and how she became ara ra ra Ketki.

Is this the first time you are performing in Dubai?
No. I have been to Dubai before. It guess it was about 15 years ago when I came here with a Hindi play. I have also made a few trips in between. I like the city - the towering building, roads, shopping etc. Dubai has progressed so much over the years and I have a lot of sightseeing to do.
So what is your play Tare Man Hu - Mare Man Tu all about?
It's fun-filled Gujarati play. You know, you can't expect to have a Gujarati audience and not give them something to laugh about. They love to be entertained, so of course, there is a lot of humour in the play. The story is based on issues faced by families today - relationships between, husband, wife, children, and in-laws. In fact, we are attempting to explore the relationship between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law in a very different way in the play. Though there is a lot of humour in the play, there is also a very strong and serious underlying message that we are trying to convey through the story. We want people to enjoy themselves, but we also want them to feel good at the end of the play.

When you think of Ketki Dave, the first thing that comes to mind is the expression ara ra ra. How did this phrase come about?
Ara ra ra is simply a common phrase that Gujaratis use in their daily lives to express many things. I first used it in the TV soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. At that time, I didn't know that it would become so popular. The audience soon started associating me with the line and it became my signature phrase. I also used it in the Bollywood comedy Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya, and people just loved it. Basically, the expression is used assert something or exclaim, similar to how you would use 'Oh! My God' in English.

Is it easy for you to speak Hindi with a Gujarati accent on screen?
Yes, of course. You know I grew up with Gujaratis all around me, and I  am married into a Gujarati family (Ketki's husband is the noted Gujarati star Rasik Dave). So it was very easy for me. I used to like the way Gujaratis spoke Hindi - it was very different from the way North Indians would speak the language and I was particularly attracted to the accent.

How is the demand for theatre these days? Do your plays attract the younger generation?
There is an increasing demand for our plays, and yes, we do get a lot of young people coming for our shows. The younger generation too want to be entertained, they all want a good laugh. Talking about demand, you know, one our plays did 100 shows in about 100 days. We have a huge turnout when we take our plays to Western countries like the UK and the US. The Gujarati audience in the West love their dramas and movies. I am now looking to come up with Hindi plays in the near future.

TV, movies or theatre. Which is your favourite medium?
I am an actor, so for me, it doesn't really matter whether I'm working on TV, films or theatre. I started my career on stage, went on to TV and then moved to films. I love all three mediums and the challenges each of them bring to me.

Do people still remember you from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi?
Yes, they do. I must say that I am very lucky to have played Dakshaben in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. I still get a lot of love and affection from the audience.
When did the acting bug bite you? Where and how did you learn acting?
My mother, Sarita Joshi, is an accomplished actress. When I was a child I used to observe her a lot. I wanted to be like her and would often go to my room, apply make-up and act in front of the mirror. During my school vacation, I used to watch her plays and get inspired. Then I joined theatre. My mother used to guide me at that time. But she was also my fiercest critic and used to point out my mistakes and would advise me. I learnt a lot from her. She was very proud of me when I joined television and used to encourage me a lot.

Now that you have been into acting for more than three decades, do you ever get bored of it?
No. Never. I never get bored or stressed out when it comes to acting. I enjoy my life on screen and on stage, but I also enjoy being at home. But at times, I had to sacrifice family life for work. When my kids were young they needed me more at home and I  had to give them time. But I managed it. I do get tired sometimes, but never bored. The audience will never know if I am tired, sick or had a bad day because when I'm on stage, I am not Ketki, I become the character and the tiredness automatically dissipates.

What else are you passionate about?
I am very fond of reading and gaining knowledge. I used to read a lot of fiction earlier like Ayn Rand, Jeffrey Archer etc, but now I'm purely into non-fiction. I also love being at home - being a housewife and a mother.

Why should people come to watch your play in Dubai?
Firstly, because I am coming to Dubai after a long time and I am sure they will have a hilarious time. I too will have a great time with them. When they enjoy (the play) I too will enjoy the feedback from them.
Details:
Where: Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School, Dubai
When: Friday, June 29, at 7pm
Tickets: Dhs200, 100, 60, 40
For details, call: 04-2691512
michael@khaleejtimes.com