‘External Affairs’ explores Gen Z relationships with humour

Akvarious Productions presents External Affairs, a Gen Z comedy exploring relationships. The play to be staged at Rangbhoomi Spaces in Hyderabad is directed by Adhar Khurana

Mumbai-based Akvarious Productions returns this weekend with External Affairs, a play that explores Gen Z relationship dynamics through humour. Directed by Adhaar Khurana and written by Bobby Nagra, the production is backed by Akarsh Khurana and Saatvika Kantamneni.

The team describes the play as “a comedy of confusion, fashionable anxiety, technology, transactional relationships, wokeness — and all the dilemmas plaguing the current generation. There is a reason they got the very last alphabet.”

The plot follows Arjun, a talented yet struggling young man nursing a heartbreak, who crosses paths with the successful and self-assured Insia. Their chance encounter leads to an unexpected relationship — until their respective exes resurface, setting the stage for a twist.

External Affairs features an interactive format with four actors — Abhinav Sharma, Garima Yajnik, Prajakta Koli and Taaruk Raina. Two actors engage directly with the audience, while the other two slip into multiple characters. Though the storyline is new, the concept echoes Internal Affairs, an earlier Akvarious production from 2017. Its format, which breaks the fourth wall, has proven a hit across cities, with over 100 shows staged.

Director Adhaar Khurana promises a playful yet thought-provoking evening. “It starts off like any other relationship but then moves through different phases. The audience sees how external factors, exes, friends, even parents, affect how people respond to love and conflict.” The play also touches on mental health, inclusivity, and modern anxieties, all laced with humour.

Since its premiere in August 2024, External Affairs has travelled to Delhi, Nagpur and Bhopal. “It’s quite crazy,” says Adhaar. “We have managed 42 shows in seven months, and it’s been amazing.”

The play offers a 360-degree viewing experience, with the audience seated around the performance space. The team also tailors the production to each venue, making subtle adjustments along the way. “We even tweak a few jokes and references depending on the city,” says Adhaar, promising a few surprises for Hyderabad audiences.