Veteran actor Delnaaz Irani is winning hearts once again with her latest theatre production Love Online, a musical romantic comedy that also stars Rakesh Bedi. The play, which combines humour, nostalgia, retro Bollywood music and an emotional story about companionship, has already enjoyed a successful run in Delhi and is now set to travel to Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Kanpur and Mumbai.
Speaking about the response to the play, Delnaaz said she has stopped keeping track 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.”
According to the actor, the unique premise of the play immediately attracted her to the project. Set in a time before smartphones became part of everyday life, Love Online takes audiences back to the era of cyber cafés, when people relied on them to chat and send emails.
“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,” Delnaaz shared.
The story 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 introduces a creative element by bringing their younger selves on stage through dance sequences featuring popular 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,” she said.
Delnaaz also spoke about sharing the stage with Rakesh Bedi, with whom she has worked for many years across 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. People’s perceptions may change depending on an actor’s recent work or popularity, but for me, he remains an incredibly admirable co-actor and human being.”
She believes their long association helps create a natural chemistry that audiences instantly connect with. At its core, the play also delivers a 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?” she said.
Despite her extensive work in films and television, Delnaaz says theatre continues to hold a special place in her heart.
“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 recalled one particularly memorable interaction with a member of the audience after a performance.
“A woman once came up to me after the play and said, ‘Watching your performance made me forget all my sorrows.’ Moments like those are priceless,” she said.
Delnaaz also revealed that Love Online follows 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,” she explained. “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.”
For the actor, the immediate connection between performers and audiences is what makes theatre so rewarding.
“Television and films are wonderful mediums too,” she said, “but nothing compares to performing live on stage.”
Describing Love Online as a complete entertainment package, Delnaaz said the production offers comedy, romance, dance, music, nostalgia and emotional moments, all 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.
At a time when online dating and virtual relationships have become increasingly common, Delnaaz believes the emotions driving human connections remain unchanged.
“People still long for companionship, love, and understanding,” she said. “At the end of the day, those feelings never change.”
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.”