When Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s play, Ghosts, was first performed in 1882, he probably didn’t imagine that its adaptations would travel far and wide for centuries. In India, theatre actors Ila Arun and KK Raina first staged its Hindi adaptation, Peechha Karti Parchhaiyaan, in 2016. After over 50 successful performances, Arun is now bringing it to the small screen. The drama is set to première on Tata Play Theatre on August 25.

While the original story revolved around the Alving family, director Saurabh Shrivastava has set the teleplay in Rajasthan, with the late Maharaja Kunwar Viraj Bhanu Pratap Singh’s family at the centre. Through Arun’s character Yashodhara, the story highlights patriarchal traditions and their impact on future generations. Hailing from Rajasthan, Arun brought her own insight into the character. She says, “My inspiration came from Rajasthani women. Like them, my character appears to be graceful and soft, but later on, even at her most vulnerable, she fights for what she loves like a warrior.”