Veteran stars Delnaaz Irani and Rakesh Bedi are once again charming audiences, this time with their latest theatre production Love Online. The musical romantic comedy, which has already had a successful run in Delhi, is now set to travel to Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Mumbai.
The play brings together humour, nostalgia, retro Bollywood music, and an emotional story about companionship. Delnaaz, speaking about the overwhelming response, shared that she has completely lost count of the number of performances. “Honestly, I’ve completely lost count. We’ve done quite a few shows already, especially since the beginning of this year. It’s been an amazing journey so far,” she said.
The Play’s Unique Premise
What sets Love Online apart is its nostalgic setting. The story unfolds in a time before smartphones took over everyday life, when people relied on cyber cafés to chat and send emails. Delnaaz revealed that this unique backdrop immediately drew her to the project. “What really attracted me was the unusual idea. The play is set in a time when people had to visit cyber cafés just to chat or send emails. That nostalgic backdrop makes the story incredibly charming,” she shared.
The plot revolves around two middle-aged individuals who find companionship through online conversations. Rakesh Bedi plays a man on the verge of divorce, while Delnaaz portrays a widowed woman with a daughter of marriageable age. As the two characters gradually fall in love, the play creatively brings their younger selves on stage through dance sequences set to retro Bollywood songs. “It’s not just a play, it’s a musical journey. The entire production is a blend of scenes, music, dance, emotions, and nostalgia,” Delnaaz explained.
Delnaaz also spoke about sharing the stage with Rakesh Bedi, with whom she has worked extensively in television and theatre. “We’ve worked together for years in theatre and television. People still remember us from Yes Boss. Even today, audiences shout out ‘Mohan ji’ and ‘Kavita’ when they see us on stage together. Rakesh ji is exactly the same warm, lovable, and brilliant actor he has always been,” she said, adding that their long association helps create natural chemistry that audiences instantly connect with.
The Magic of Live Theatre
Despite her extensive work in films and television, Delnaaz says theatre remains her first love. “Theatre is my first love and I can never leave it. The joy of hearing hundreds of people laugh, clap, and emotionally react at the same time is incomparable,” she said. She recalled a particularly touching moment after a performance when a woman in the audience told her, “Watching your performance made me forget all my sorrows.” For Delnaaz, moments like that are priceless.
The actress also revealed that Love Online followed an unconventional rehearsal process. Since much of the story takes place inside a cyber café, parts of the script are displayed on a laptop during the performance itself. “Normally, a theatre production requires one or two months of rehearsals. But for this play, we rehearsed for just a couple of days. Before every performance, we do a complete reading together and then simply flow with the energy of the audience,” she explained.
For Delnaaz, the immediate connection between performers and audiences is what makes theatre so rewarding. “Television and films are wonderful mediums too, but nothing compares to performing live on stage,” she said.
A Message of Love at Any Age
At its core, Love Online delivers a powerful message about finding love and companionship later in life. “Age is just a number. Society often makes divorced people or older individuals feel they don’t deserve another chance at love. But why shouldn’t they start life afresh if they want happiness?” Delnaaz questioned.
Describing the production as a complete entertainment package, she said it offers comedy, romance, dance, music, nostalgia, and emotional moments while telling a meaningful story. “The songs are not randomly inserted. They become part of the storytelling. Audiences laugh, get emotional, clap, and completely connect with the story,” she said.
In an age where online dating and virtual relationships have become the norm, Delnaaz believes the emotions driving human connections remain unchanged. “People still long for companionship, love, and understanding. At the end of the day, those feelings never change,” she said.
She also encouraged audiences to continue supporting live theatre. “If we want theatre to stay alive, people need to come out and watch plays. And Love Online gives audiences everything – music, comedy, emotions, nostalgia, and a beautiful social message,” she concluded.