After Morning Raga (2004), I went into hibernation. It's not that I didn't get any offers but I wasn't keen on other scripts. I'm not the type, who always has three-four scripts in hand. Films are very different from theatre. Since films are on hold now, I took up this play.

Producer Ashwin Gidwani wanted to adapt a book on stage. Initially, I didn't think it was a good idea. But Ashwin was keen in getting the rights from Paulo Cohelo's team. After he got the rights, he approached me once again and I couldn't say no. I had worked with him before in Double Deal and Mad About Money.

I knew Deepa Gahlot as a theatre critic. Since she was adapting the book, it became easier for me.

It took me six months to get the play ready. One month was required for casting alone. We auditioned many people. Mohan is an experienced actor. Tarun Singh (playing the boy, Santiago), on the other hand, is not that experienced. Since the play is a musical, Asif Ali Beg sings and acts. The music is composed by Kabir and Kaizad's team. We spent three months on rehearsals.

It's difficult to make a play out of a book. I had two choices: either do a visual enactment of the book or dramatise it and show what I want. I preferred the latter because the adaptation was strong.

I worked a lot on the relationship between the Alchemist and Santiago. I wanted to show the Alchemist as a friend rather than just a mentor or guiding source.

In the picture: Tarun Singh and Asif Ali Beg in The Alchemist

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