Veteran actor Delnaaz Irani is once again winning audiences over with her latest theatrical outing Love Online, a musical romantic comedy co-starring Rakesh Bedi. Blending nostalgia, humour, retro Bollywood music, and an emotional story about second chances, the play has already completed several successful performances across Delhi and is now gearing up for shows in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Mumbai.
Speaking about the overwhelming response, Delnaaz admitted she has genuinely stopped counting 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.”
The actor revealed that what drew her instantly to the project was its unique and refreshing concept. Set in the era before smartphones, Love Online takes audiences back to a time when cyber cafés were the only way people connected online. “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.
In the play, Rakesh Bedi’s character is on the verge of getting divorced, while Delnaaz Irani plays a widowed woman with a daughter of marriageable age, searching for companionship and emotional connection. The story follows two people in their late 40s and 50s who gradually fall in love while chatting online. Adding an imaginative twist, their younger selves also appear on stage through dance performances 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.”
Talking about working alongside Rakesh Bedi, Delnaaz said their chemistry comes from years of friendship and collaboration. “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.”
Calling Rakesh Bedi “warm, lovable, and brilliant,” the actor added that audiences often connect instantly with their comfort and comic timing on stage. At the heart of Love Online lies a strong message about love and companionship beyond age and societal expectations. “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?”
The actor, who has spent decades across television, films, and theatre, said live performances continue to give her unmatched satisfaction. “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.
Recalling one memorable audience interaction, she added, “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.”
Delnaaz also revealed an unusual aspect of the play’s preparation process. Since the story unfolds inside a cyber café, much of the script appears on a laptop during the performance itself. “Normally, a theatre production requires one or two months of rehearsals,” she said. “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.”
The actor believes that theatre gives performers a unique creative satisfaction because of the immediate audience connection. “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 audiences can expect comedy, romance, emotional moments, dance, music, and nostalgia all woven together naturally.
“The songs are not randomly inserted,” she explained. “They become part of the storytelling. Audiences laugh, get emotional, clap, and completely connect with the story.”
As online dating and virtual relationships become increasingly common today, Delnaaz believes emotions remain timeless despite changing technology. “People still long for companionship, love, and understanding,” she said. “At the end of the day, those feelings never change.”
Urging audiences to continue supporting live theatre, the actor concluded, “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.”
