Actress Shabana Azmi is set to return to North America with her acclaimed theatre production Broken Images. The five-time National Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient will embark on a tour across the United States and Canada with the one-woman play, penned by renowned playwright Girish Karnad and directed by theatre legend Alyque Padamsee.
Celebrated as a landmark in contemporary Indian theatre, the production will begin its North American run on 25 September 2025 in Connecticut, before moving to Chicago on 26 September, the Bay Area on 27 September, and Vancouver on 28 September. The tour continues into October with performances in Raleigh on 2 October, Boston on 3 October, New York on 4 October, and concludes in Toronto on 5 October 2025.
Images: baithak
Speaking about her return, Azmi told IANS: “Broken Images has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career. Girish Karnad’s writing gives me a canvas to explore emotions and conflicts that are universal yet deeply personal. This is my second North American tour with the play, and I am thrilled to be back with this grand production alongside Prria Haider, who has been such a strong supporter of Indian theatre abroad. I look forward to sharing this journey once again, offering audiences in the USA and Canada a glimpse of Indian artistry and talent through this unforgettable narrative, and I hope the play will leave a lasting impression and spark conversations long after the curtain falls.”
The play tells the story of Manjula Sharma, a Hindi author whose unexpected literary success forces her to confront questions of identity, language, and the fractured self, blurring the boundary between truth and illusion.
Azmi added: “Every time I perform in North America, the energy is truly unparalleled, it feels like more than just being on stage. It’s wonderful to reconnect with old fans and share meaningful moments with both longtime supporters and new audiences. I’m really grateful for this tour, and I can’t wait to spread joy and entertainment through our performances. I am looking forward to making new memories for sure.”
The tour is presented by Prria Haider Productions and Priyanka Jotwani. Prria Haider, who has staged over 100 large-scale shows worldwide, has been instrumental in bringing some of India’s most celebrated artistes to international audiences.
