EVERY PERSON IS UNIQUE

I believe that every person has uniqueness, something that nobody else has because what might special in me not necessarily be special in the other person, says Punit Asthana, the veteran stage director in an interview with HT CITY.

Punit is a person with a belief in simple thinking and living, he even says Jyada Ki Nahi Zarurat Hamko, Thode Mein Guzara Ho Raha Hai.

Though Asthana was born in Dehradun, but he shifted to Lucknow in his early childhood because of his father’s health, where he completed his M.A in Ancient Indian History. He was the First Batch student of Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Punit has also worked in Shyam Benegal’s movie Junoon.Puneet has always dreamt of working in movies but because of his family’s circumstances and his responsibilities being the only son in the family he couldn’t fulfill his dream of becoming one.

Asthana is a fond lover of movies related to one’s day to day life, including Baghban, Anand and Khoobsurat which are all related to the problems of the common man.

He believes that her granddaughter Pavni is her ultimate stress buster, whenever I see her face a smile comes on to my face, he adds.

Talking about his father’s support in his initial stage in theatres, Punit says, “My father has been really supportive to me, because at that time nobody opted for theaters as a career.But, he allowed me to do so because he had a very broad thinking to see different perspectives.”

Asthana says he is a real good cook and can cook various types of dishes including Chinese, South Indian and Indian.

The artist has acted and directed in more than 150 plays. Some of which includes Sandhya Chaya, Antygony, Akela Jeev Sadashiv and Agni Aur Barkha.

He is the recipient of awards like Akansha Kala Ratna Samman, Rangyatra Samman, Brij Natya Samman, ManchKriti Samman, Bhartendu Natya Akadami Rajat Jayanti Samman and U.P.Sangeet Natak Akadami Samman.

He has been a lecturer, visiting faculty and even the director with Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts. Currently he is working with P.W.D as the senior assistant.