The theatre of hope: Md Zeeshan Ayyub returns to stage with Jhilmilganj Ke Sitare

4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jul 30, 2026 01:34 PM IST Jhilmilganj Ke Sitare featuring Md Zeeshan Ayyub and Gagan Dev Riar.As actors Md Zeeshan Ayyub and Gagan Dev Riar rehearse Jhilmilganj Ke Sitare, they suddenly break into a rhythmic chant, “Khus phus khus phus khus, phus khus phus khus phus”, while seamlessly transforming a scene. Their playfulness underscores a darker moment in the story: the town’s powerful plot to build a dam that goes against the interest of Jhilmilganj’s residents. For Ayyub, the production marks a long-awaited return to the stage after nearly eight years. Directed by actor-director Rasika Agashe, the Hindi adaptation of James Hindman’s Popcorn Falls pairs him with Riar in a demanding two-hander that celebrates the resilience of theatre itself.When Ayyub told Agashe,