India-wide Release, 17th March 2026: Aadyam Theatre, a pioneering live theatre initiative by the Aditya Birla Group, is sparking the audience’s interest with bold stories and even bolder storytelling for the upcoming eighth season. Its first play marks a new experimentation for the initiative by foraying into the supernatural thriller territory with Ankahi. When this never-attempted-before genre by Aadyam Theatre was announced, the reaction was immediate and rapturous. Now, due to the unprecedented excitement and buzz, the initiative is announcing its Mumbai runs even before the premiere of its Delhi show; a clear sign of the audience’s hunger for an adventurous experience. The Mumbai run is slated for 18th and 19th April at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, and 2nd and 3rd May, 2026, at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir.
Ankahi continues the previous season’s tradition of transforming classical texts into immersive, theatrical experiences. It is a Hindi adaptation of Susan Hill’s celebrated horror story, The Woman In Black. Its English adaptation for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, became one of the longest-running West End productions. It follows the story of a middle-aged lawyer, Sandeepan Chauhan, who is carrying the baggage of a haunted truth. In an attempt to free himself from it, he finds an unusual channel in a young, sceptical theatre actor who helps him stage his horror – the account of how a simple legal matter of settling deceased Fatima Illyas’ estate unfolds a darker truth hidden in the marshes of West Bengal.
The events turn grimmer as the locals become increasingly evasive and the marshes an echo chamber of secrets. And at the centre of it all is the “Hunkaarni,” a phantom figure whose curse inflicts a shadow that, once encountered, never truly leaves you.
This story within a story blurs the boundaries between reality and performance, between confession and consequence. As Sandeepan bares his unsettling secret, the actor unknowingly gets entangled in a web of truth, fiction, and revelation. The play poses a question for the audience: Does revealing our darkest secrets guide us towards light, or does it pull us further into darker trenches?
Ankahi’s world is mounted by director Vikranth Pawar, making this his first play for Aadyam Theatre. The director has been instrumental in bringing Broadway-style musicals to India for the first time with Beauty And The Beast. Vikranth’s experience in mounting riveting stories helped bring a rare sonic and visual ambition to Ankahi. The meticulously developed set and sound design create a world that the audience doesn’t just experience; they immerse themselves in it.
Talking about his experience, Vikranth Pawar said, “Ankahi marks my first play with Aadyam Theatre, and the experience has been nothing short of exciting. My decision to adapt this classic horror story for the Indian stage was purely based on my conviction that the Indian audience has been waiting for a supernatural thriller to unfold on a live stage. The play packs some real scares and pulls you into pure drama and thrill for 90 minutes. It is a story that stays with you even when the lights turn back on.”
The play’s cast includes two powerhouse performers – Gopal Datt (Tere Naam, Delhi Crime, Bunty Aur Babli 2) as Sandeepan Chauhan, and Rohit Chaudhary (Bareilly ki Barfi, Jabariya Jodi, The Forgotten Army) as the young actor.
With Ankahi, Aadyam Theatre ushers in a new era of storytelling. The initiative is attempting to replicate the jump scares and the rousing experience of a supernatural thriller in real-time. For ten years, the initiative has been pushing the envelope when it comes to theatre, staging real voices, and bringing relevant stories. The response towards the announcement of the first play sets the tone for the upcoming plays, celebrating the vigour and authentic storytelling that Aadyam Theatre has been relentlessly staging for Indian audiences.
Book your tickets on BookMyShow right away to be a part of the thrill.
