The Many Roads Taken: DSM Alumni Writers in Performance
At Drama School Mumbai (DSM), many students come with a dream of acting on stage but leave with a broader creative vision. Through DSM’s unique training, some alumni discover a passion for writing, bringing their theatre experience into the world of literature and storytelling. Here’s a look at four DSM alumni who’ve turned their theatre training into a successful journey in writing and literature.
Mallika Shah: Merging the Playful with the Political
“DSM helped me imagine scenes a lot better… it taught me to confidently question, even if the questions felt stupid.”
– Mallika Shah
Mallika Shah is an accomplished playwright and director, known for her original work I Killed My Mother/It Wasn’t My Fault, a play supported by DSM’s Niloufer Sagar Alumni Production Grant. Her journey into writing began with her studies in English literature, where she explored non-canonical and intersectional stories. At DSM, Mallika learnt to approach writing through devising, using her theatre training to bring scenes vividly to life.
Today, Mallika co-runs the theatre company Tafreewale with Meghana AT, blending playful exploration with political themes. DSM’s collaborative environment gave her a foundation in devising, which she now applies as she brings snippets of text into rehearsal, working them into scenes through improvisation and exploration.
Khushbu Baid: Writing and Acting for the Screen
“Everything starts from writing… each scene requires a build.”
– Khushbu Baid
A writer and actor with The Viral Fever (TVF), Khushbu Baid began her journey in writing at DSM. Her first script, Main Actor Banna Chahti Hu, was a comedy sketch inspired by her personal experiences and dreams. At DSM, she developed the multidisciplinary skills she now uses in screenwriting, emphasising how “everything starts from writing.”
Today, Khushbu writes for acclaimed series like Sisterhood and Arranged Couple and applies DSM’s devising principles to build each scene with intention. “Writing is rewriting, and you reach there with feedback,” she says, reflecting on DSM’s feedback-focused environment that helped shape her process. Khushbu’s journey is a testament to how theatre training can translate to success in screenwriting.
Vibhanshu Doshi: Exploring Collaboration Through Writing
“This time in training allowed for an openness… it helped me be experimental.”
– Vibhanshu Doshi
Vibhanshu Doshi’s passion for literature deepened at DSM, particularly during the Writing for Performance module. His first play, One Day, was developed in this very class and later received support from DSM’s Alumni Production Grant. DSM’s collaborative environment introduced him to a new way of writing, where creating with others became a vital part of his process.
Today, Vibhanshu is an actor and spoken word artist, performing in theatre critic Vikram Phukan’s Postcards in Colaba and engaging with audiences through his writing. He continues to explore experimental forms, drawing on his DSM training, where openness and creativity were encouraged.
Prajesh Kashyap: From Performance to the Page
“Working with a challenging text has made me realise that good writing requires rigour, labour, and perseverance.”
– Prajesh Kashyap
Prajesh Kashyap brings his theatre experience into the world of writing, music, and performance. After starting out with The Players at Kirori Mal College, he trained at DSM, where he learnt to write, create, and embrace failure as part of the process. “DSM taught me to create, write my own stuff, and be ready to fail,” he reflects.
Prajesh’s latest performances include The Nether and Love and Information, where he navigates the balance between performance and writing. His experience at DSM exposed him to a wide range of plays, contexts, and forms, building his technique and helping him refine his own voice. His journey shows that for DSM alumni, writing is as much about rigorous craft as it is about creativity.
The DSM Advantage: Transforming Storytellers Through Theatre
Through DSM’s intensive training, alumni like Mallika, Khushbu, Vibhanshu, and Prajesh have discovered their voices as writers, storytellers, and creators. DSM’s emphasis on collaboration, feedback, and experimentation allows students to uncover new talents and make their mark in writing and literature. For those with a love for stories and the drive to create, DSM provides a platform to expand beyond acting into the world of performance writing.
Article written by Vibhanshu Doshi