The unstoppable Sushma Seth

Sushma Seth: Always in the spotlight

Television fans still remember Sushma Seth for her role in the 1984 serial Hum Log, where she played Imarti Devi, popularly known as Dadi. Her name also brings back memories of Sarla Durgadas Diwan, her character in the 1993 sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh.

New Delhi-bred Sushma Seth, however, did not start her career in television or films. Her first passion was theatre, which she pursued from the late 1950s, before becoming one of the founders of the Delhi-based group Yatrik in 1964.

Her vast contribution to theatre was recognised again, when she was conferred the Lifetime Achievement honour at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) at a function in Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium on March 29. The award has been given since 2010, with a break during the lockdown. Previous winners are Badal Sircar, Zohra Sehgal, Khaled Choudhury, Ibrahim Alkazie, Girish Karnad, Heisnam Kanhai Lal, Ratan Thiyam, Arun Kakde, Vijaya Mehta, Mahesh Elkunchwar and Barry John. The ceremony was held after the Meta festival organised from March 23 to 28 by the Mahindra Group and Teamwork Arts.

“I was overjoyed. I have been associated with META since its inception — on the jury, as part of an appreciative audience,” says the veteran. “META has played an important role in supporting and giving a platform to theatre groups from all over India.”

Recalling the early days of Yatrik, she says, “I cherish those years . I got a chance to act in the choicest of lead roles — Rano in Ek Chadar Maili Si, Katharina in The Taming Of The Shrew, Susan in The Little Hut, and Raina in Arms And The Man. I directed Desire Under The Elms and Gandhiji’s Sadhna. I did costume, sought advertising, sold tickets. All this was while teaching speech and drama at Convent of Jesus and Mary in Delhi. It was never tiring, I always felt elated.”

Her other roles included Champa in Sakharam Binder and Gurdafarid, the warrior princess in Rustam Sohrab. “I was fortunate to work with the best of directors such as Joy Michael, Habib Tanveer, Sai Paranjpye and Rajindernath,” she says.

The shift to films happened suddenly, when Sushma Seth was offered the role of Shashi Kapoor’s aunt in Shyam Benegal’s 1978 film Junoon. “It was a learning experience as I had never acted in a film. After its release, I received offers of Prem Rog, Silsila, Swami Dada and Kalyug. The TV serial Hum Log also happened at the same time and I became ‘jagat ki dadi’. I was flying back and forth between Delhi and Mumbai.”