Backstage
About Akvarious Productions
Akvarious Productions is a Bombay-based theatre company creating urban, contemporary, text-driven work rooted in original writing and bold Indian adaptations. For over 25 years, Akvarious has championed story-led theatre that is accessible, and sharply observed —often humorous, sometimes political, and always attentive to the world it comes from.
Founded in 2000, Akvarious initially emerged from Thespo, India’s premier youth theatre festival, where the company experimented widely with form, genre, and material. Over time, this period of exploration gave way to a clearer artistic voice. From 2010 onwards, Akvarious gravitated decisively towards contemporary narratives, original texts, and adaptations that speak to modern Indian life.
The company’s work ranges from meaningful comedies to intimate dramas, frequently centring relationships, family, identity, and social commentary. Productions such as All About Women, The Interview, and the Special Bond trilogy marked this shift early on, while more recent works including Internal Affairs, Rafta Rafta, The Kite Runner, The F Word, and This Time, exemplify Akvarious’ commitment to strong writing, humour with intent, and emotionally grounded storytelling.
Akvarious has staged over 90 productions, performing more than 1800 shows across 35 cities in India and abroad, and has also produced ten plays for children. Seven productions have been nominated for the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards, with two winning Best Play.
Internationally, Akvarious’ production of A Friend’s Story was presented at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe as part of the Festival of Independence. The company’s work has also featured at major festivals and platforms including Aadyam Theatre, Prithvi Theatre Festival, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Serendipity Arts Festival, the India Habitat Centre Festival, and the Hindu MetroPlus Festival.
Today, Akvarious continues to develop and tour contemporary theatre that speaks to the present moment, working closely with writers, directors, and performers to develop new work and reimagine existing texts. With an emphasis on collaboration, touring-ready productions, and sustained audience engagement, the company’s practice is shaped by the belief that well-crafted, text-led theatre with a clear voice can travel across cities and cultures without losing its specificity.
Team
Akarsh Khurana
Founder
Akarsh Khurana is a theatre and film actor, director, and writer. Also one of the leading theatre producers in India, Akarsh (with his company, Akvarious Productions) has produced nearly 90 plays in 25 years, including 10 plays for children. Akarsh won the award for Best Director twice at Thespo (India’s premier youth theatre festival) for his early work and went on to be nominated five times at a national level for Best Director (at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards) and won once for Stage Design. He has often collaborated with international playwrights, having directed the work of Ayub Khan-Din, David Harrower, Hassan Abdulrazzak and others. Akarsh has written screenplays for a few feature films, including the very successful Krrish. He has directed lots of web sketches, cineplays, a television movie (Real FM), three web series (including Mismatched), and three feature films including Karwaan and Rashmi Rocket. He also co-wrote two seasons of TVF’s Tripling.
Saatvika Kantamneni
Producer
Saatvika Kantamneni is a theatre producer, stage and production manager based in India. She holds an MA in Collaborative Theatre Production and Design from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Currently the producer at Akvarious Productions, she has produced over 20 plays there. She also produced the Tibetan play Pah-Lak on its India and Europe tours. She was Senior Stage Manager for Disney’s Aladdin (India), and Festival Director of Thespo, a national youth theatre festival. Committed to capacity building, she co-conceived Think Big, Think Small, a producing programme by Bhasha Centre; Backstage Pass Camp, a workshop for Connections India at the NCPA; and ran the DSFM Niloufer Sagar Alumni Production Grant since its inception. Believing steadfastly in “the show must go on,” Saatvika steps into whatever role is needed—managing plays, lights, sound, costumes, or sets. She enjoys creating collaborative work that challenges the world we live in.
Shraddha Dabral
Promotions
Shraddha Dabral is a filmmaker, content strategist, and trained dancer with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling through visuals, movement, and film. She has worked as a video producer and content lead for multiple brands and large-scale events including the International Film Festival of India, Serendipity Arts Festival, and G20 India, taking on varied roles. Currently handling marketing, social media, photography, and video production at Akvarious Productions, she brings her creative eye to the world of theatre, attempting to pick up new skills and finding ways to become more involved in different parts of the process. Shraddha thrives on experimentation, growth, and collaboration, driven by an ever-evolving love for the arts and a belief in stories that move people.