Shweta Tripathi returns to theatre with husband Cheeta in revival of External Affairs

After years away from acting on stage, actor-producer Shweta Tripathi is returning to theatre with External Affairs, where she will be seen alongside her husband, actor-rapper Chaitnya Sharma. For the actress, the comeback is also a return to the medium that shaped both her artistic journey and personal life.Shweta says, “It is very exciting. I continue performing poetry and doing live performances, but I haven’t done a play in a very long time. What excites me is that, as actors, we have to remain present not just for a few moments but throughout an 80-minute performance. These days, we are living in a world of information overload, endless consumption and constant entertainment. Theatre is very different from acting before the camera because there will be people in your eyeline, someone may be restless, someone may cough, someone may be distracted and, hopefully, everyone will be enjoying the performance. All of that continues while you are acting. The joy of theatre is that every show is different, every audience is different, and I am looking forward to that journey.”The actress credits theatre for inspiring her acting journey and giving her some of life’s most meaningful moments. It was also through theatre that she first met her now husband, Cheeta, while working on a play directed by Akarsh Khurana. Interestingly, her return to the stage comes with External Affairs, directed by Akarsh’s brother, Adhaar Khurana.She says, “I became an actor because of what I saw on stage and how it made me feel. Watching theatre inspired me and made me want to create that same magic and connection with an audience. I have continued producing plays because I always wanted to stay associated with theatre in some way. Stage ne professionally toh diya hi hai, but it has also given me my most favourite human, Cheeta. So, there has always been a special place in my heart for theatre.”Speaking about joining External Affairs, which has previously been staged with another cast, Shweta says, “External Affairs is beautifully written, and my character, a semi-famous influencer, is very different from who I am. I haven’t played someone like this before, and every character helps you discover different parts of yourself. Through this, we also keep expanding as actors.”She adds, “There was a cast before us and they did a fabulous job. I have seen the play and, as an actor, what works for me is collecting emotions, memories and observations and bringing them into the character. It also works the other way because it is not necessary that your character thinks like you. Both the actor and the character keep changing each other.”