Autobiography at Delhi Theatre Festival 2025 — Lillete Dubey & Denzil Smith Bring Mahesh Elkunchwar’s Classic Back to Life

If you love theatre that holds up a mirror to memory, marriage and messy human truth, don’t miss Autobiography at the Delhi Theatre Festival on 15 November 2025. This restaging — directed by Lillete Dubey and starring Denzil Smith — is part of Delhi Theatre Festival Season 6 and will be staged at Aurum Conventions, Gurugram. Tickets are available on BookMyShow.

What the play is about

Autobiography (originally Atmakatha by Mahesh Elkunchwar) follows an ageing, celebrated writer, Anantrao Rajadhyaksha, as he dictates his life story to Pradnya — a feisty PhD researcher. As the pages unfold, flashbacks and conflicting memories reveal a fraught 30-year marriage, a scandalous affair, rivalries and the thin line between truth and self-myth. The play moves between humour and heartbreak and asks: whose version of truth do we trust?

Why this staging matters now

Lillete Dubey’s revival updates the play without losing Elkunchwar’s razor-sharp emotional honesty. In today’s age of curated social lives and selective memories, the play asks hard questions about reputation, remorse and the stories we tell to survive. The Delhi run brings a mix of theatre veterans and younger actors, so it’s a show that will click with both long-time theatre-goers and younger audiences discovering Indian stage craft.

The Faces on Stage

Lillete Dubey — Director & Uttara

Lillete Dubey needs little introduction on the Indian stage. As director and actor in this production, she brings decades of theatre experience and a deep, empathetic sense for layered characters. Her take on Uttara — the writer’s estranged wife — is both restrained and deeply felt, making the quiet moments as powerful as the confrontations.

Denzil Smith Anantrao Rajadhyaksha

Denzil Smith plays the ageing writer at the heart of the play. Known for his subtlety and stage presence, Smith brings vulnerability to a character who is equal parts charisma and contradiction. Early reviews from other cities praised his nuanced portrayal.

Suchitra Pillai Vasanti

Suchitra Pillai brings sharpness and emotional honesty to Vasanti, the younger sister whose relationship with the writer unsettles the family. Her stage work is marked by a natural realism that cuts through melodrama.

Sarah Hashmi Pradnya

Sarah Hashmi plays Pradnya, the inquisitive PhD researcher. Her energy and modern edge provide the play’s questioning centre — she pulls the truth out of memory with both playfulness and discipline.

Creative Team & Production Notes

• Playwright: Mahesh Elkunchwar

• Director & Producer: Lillete Dubey.

• Production Company: Primetime Theatre Co.

• Lighting: Lynne Fernandez

• Set & Stage Design: Fali Unwala

• Music: Ashish Painoli

Minimal set design, evocative lighting and a restrained music score give this production its emotional focus — the actors’ faces and the dialogue become the stage.

Event & Ticket Details

• Date: 15 November 2025.

• Time: As listed on the festival schedule (check BookMyShow for show timings).

• Venue: Aurum Conventions, Gurugram (Delhi NCR).

• Tickets: Available via BookMyShow. Early-bird/Amex presales were announced via festival channels.

Quick Verdict — Who should go?

• You love serious Indian theatre and layered character drama.

• You want to see icons like Lillete Dubey and a strong ensemble cast.

• You enjoy plays that leave you thinking about memory, guilt and storytelling long after the lights go down.

If you’re planning a weekend with friends or a thoughtful evening out with family, this is a smart pick — theatre that rewards attention and conversation over chai afterward. 1. When and where is Autobiography showing at the Delhi Theatre Festival 2025?

Autobiography is staged on 15 November 2025 at Aurum Conventions, Gurugram (Delhi NCR) as part of Delhi Theatre Festival Season 6. Tickets are available on BookMyShow.(

2. Who are the main cast and creative team of Autobiography (Lillete Dubey’s production)?

The production is directed by Lillete Dubey and stars Denzil Smith (Anantrao Rajadhyaksha), Suchitra Pillai (Vasanti) and Sarah Hashmi (Pradnya). Playwright: Mahesh Elkunchwar; production by Primetime Theatre Co.

3. What is the running time and recommended audience for Autobiography?

The play runs approximately 2–2.5 hours (with interval). It deals with mature themes—marital breakdown and infidelity—so it is recommended for adult audiences and older teens comfortable with serious drama.