Bharat Dabholkar & Damini Chopra Star in Immersive Psychological Thriller 'Jigsaw' at NCPA Mumbai
Jigsaw, an edge-of-the-seat two-hander psychological thriller produced by Ashvin Gidwani’s AGP World, premieres on September 20, 2026, at the NCPA Experimental Theatre in Nariman Point, Mumbai. Directed by and starring veteran theatre practitioner Bharat Dabholkar alongside actor Damini Chopra (Saaho, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein), the play delivers a taut, immersive experience centered on deception, memory, and revenge.
What Is the Play 'Jigsaw' About?
Set over the course of a single rain-soaked evening in an isolated house, Jigsaw follows an intense psychological duel between two strangers:
Ranvijay (Bharat Dabholkar): An enigmatic stranger with concealed motives.
Ayra (Damini Chopra): The volatile, troubled wife of an affluent businessman.
What begins as a seemingly harmless interaction spirals into an unsettling confrontation where hidden secrets, shifting loyalties, and conflicting memories blur the line between reality and manipulation. With every revelation, the power dynamics invert, forcing audiences to question who holds control and who is orchestrating the narrative.
Key Highlights & Creative Perspectives
Bharat Dabholkar’s First Psychological Thriller
Having written and directed roughly 35 stage productions spanning musical theatre, political satire, and comedy, Jigsaw represents Dabholkar’s debut in psychological noir. Stripping away the large ensemble casts common to traditional stage whodunnits, the narrative relies solely on dialogue-driven tension between two actors from start to finish.
"I had never done a psychological thriller before. When I was working on the script, every turn offered a twist you couldn't anticipate. If it was this engrossing on paper, I knew the dynamic would be electric on stage."— Bharat Dabholkar, Director & Lead Actor
Damini Chopra on Portraying Ayra
Following prominent roles in Hindi cinema and streaming, Damini Chopra brings psychological nuance to the role of Ayra, drawing stylistic inspiration from classic screen anti-heroines.
"You absolutely cannot trust her, yet you believe everything she says. She navigates an intense emotional graph throughout the story. I modelled elements of Ayra on Rosamund Pike’s layered screen performances, calibrating every single beat so the tension resonates directly with the audience."— Damini Chopra, Lead Actor
The Immersive Vision of AGP World
Rather than presenting a passive proscenium viewing, producer Ashvin Gidwani, Founder and Managing Director of AGP World, developed an intimate acoustic and visual staging that places viewers inside the story's emotional perimeter.
"When we say immersive, we don’t mean the audience is dragged on stage. We mean the tension unfolds around them. The goal is to make viewers observe the narrative like a detective inside the room rather than watching from a safe distance."— Ashvin Gidwani, Producer
Event Details & Show Schedule
Title: Jigsaw
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Two-Hander Drama
Director: Bharat Dabholkar
Cast: Bharat Dabholkar, Damini Chopra
Producer: Ashvin Gidwani (AGP World)
Venue: Experimental Theatre, National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Nariman Point, Mumbai
Date: September 20, 2026
Showtimings: 4:00 PM IST & 7:00 PM IST
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the plot of the play Jigsaw?
Jigsaw is an intense two-actor psychological thriller set in an isolated home during a rainstorm, focusing on a high-stakes battle of wits between a mysterious stranger, Ranvijay, and a wealthy businessman's wife, Ayra.
Who is directing and starring in Jigsaw?
The play is directed by veteran actor-playwright Bharat Dabholkar, who also co-stars opposite screen actor Damini Chopra. It is produced by Ashvin Gidwani under the AGP World banner.
Where and when can I watch Jigsaw in Mumbai?
Jigsaw runs on September 20, 2026, at the NCPA Experimental Theatre in Nariman Point, Mumbai, with performances scheduled at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
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