Life cut short: Theatre director and actor Saurabh Gharipurikar passes away in Hyderabad

Hyderabad theatre community mourns the loss of director/actor Saurabh Gharipurikar, known for his passion and dedication to theatre.

The Hyderabad theatre community is mourning the unexpected passing of director and actor Saurabh Gharipurikar on February 11 at 42. He had been battling health issues for some time.

His passing is particularly heart-breaking, as he was gearing up to stage Manav Kaul’s monologue, Shakkar Ke Paanch Daane on February 22, marking the play’s 15th anniversary.

Saurabh’s theatre group, Udaan — meaning ‘flight’ in Hindi — embodies his artistic vision. An actor, director, musician, workshop facilitator, and acting trainer, he was the founder of Udaan Academy of Arts and Education Theatre and was deeply passionate about Hindi and Marathi theatre. His two-decade-long career made him an integral part of Hyderabad’s theatre scene, where he nurtured emerging talent and contributed to the art form.

“This is shocking — he was a committed theatre person,” says Vinay Varma, founder of Sutradhar, one of Hyderabad’s established theatre groups. Saurabh had collaborated with Vinay on plays such as Natasamrat and Postmortem (an adaptation of a Marathi play). Sutradhar had also provided him with space in Himayat Nagar to conduct workshops.

Saurabh’s theatrical journey began at 13, when he attended his first theatre workshop. He trained under renowned theatre personalities, including the late professor Bhaskar Shewalkar and Satyabrata Rout. His passion for the craft led him to attend a regional theatre workshop conducted by the National School of Drama (NSD) in Hyderabad and another at the Progressive Dramatic Association in Pune.

By profession, Saurabh was a Hindi teacher, but he seamlessly blended his teaching and theatre skills to establish Udaan Arts and Education in 2008. This initiative reflected his belief in using theatre as a powerful educational tool, nurturing young talent and fostering a love for performance.

As an actor, Saurabh delivered notable performances in over 55 productions, with standout roles in Satya Harischandra, Mother Courage and Her Children, and Evam Indrajeet. His versatility on stage and command over diverse characters made him a respected name in Hyderabad’s theatre circuit.