The play brings Aruna Shanbaug’s story to life on stage
Shanbaug was a nurse who remained in a persistent vegetative state for over 40 years after a ward attendant sexually assaulted her at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai. She adds that she plans to stage the play on the West Coast and in Canada in 2027. Background At 25, Aruna Shanbaug was working as a nurse at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai. In 1973, while at the hospital, she was sexually assaulted and strangled with a dog chain by a hospital sweeper. In 2009, activist and author Pinki Virani filed a petition seeking permission for passive euthanasia on Shanbaug’s behalf. Shanbaug died on May 18, 2015, aged 66, after developing pneumonia. “I have worked with director Arvind Gaur for 25 years on many solos. We are now working on a piece about the painter Amrita Sher-Gil, and I look forward to its premiere in early 2027.
Because women’s empowerment is also their central focus, it is very meaningful that it is being showcased by the foundation,.
On the audience reaction to the play in the US, she says, “The fact that each show has sparked enormous interest and led immediately to shows in other cities speaks for itself. Theatre actor Lushin Dubey ’s play Aruna’s Story will be staged in New York to raise funds for the Smile Foundation. Based on Pinki Virani’s book of the same name, the play brings Aruna Shanbaug’s story to life on stage. Speaking to us about the play, Lushin shares, “The play has completed performances in Washington and Houston, and a director from the Smile Foundation, who saw my solo in Houston, picked it up for the launch of their New York chapter. Lushin also wishes to bring more shows to India. The attack left her in a persistent vegetative state, and she remained under the care of KEM Hospital staff for more than four decades. The Supreme Court of India rejected the petition in her case, but its judgement established a legal framework for passive euthanasia in certain circumstances. A new solo on the life of Amrita Sher-Gil Lushin is also working on another piece about the life of Amrita Sher-Gil. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.