Shine on Ruby, there's a new star shooting in the sky

Arre aapri Ruby can give Ingrid Bergman a run for her money declared a grand dame in clear clipped tones No one from the audience refuted or shushed her They had seen Ruby Patel slay the stage in either Oogi Dahapan ni Daadh or Cactus Flowermdashrespective Parsi and English adaptations of the 1969 Hollywood hitmdashas she brilliantly reprised Bergmans role in the romcom that included Walter Matthau and Goldie HawnNo actress possessed Rubys poise beauty and talent blazing through 70 plays in as many years of an acting career Her actorproducer husband Burjor and she formed a devoted couple in theatredom charming three generations Her Gujarati theatre debut was Piroja Bhavan in 1954 introduced by writerdirector Adi MarzbanThe Patels emerged as a widely adored lead pair of Marzbans comedies bannered by Cooperative Players till the mid1960s Joining the Parsi arm of Indian National Theatre INT they delivered a string of thumping successes such as Tirangi Tehmul Gher Ghungro ne Ghotalo Taru Maru Bakalyu Lafra Sadan Lagan Khel Rang Rasiya and Hello Inspector Finally Burjor Patel Productions helmed popular plays touring East Africa and America which received rave reviewsNot as final it proved Theirs was a comeback to die for When they returned to Bombay after 21 years in Dubai where Burjor headed marketing for Khaleej Times I was elated to be assigned an interview for a weekend paper Two years later I started recording their theatre journey for my own research on Parsi theatre We got to know each other better teaming for the stage production based on that book Laughter in the HouseIn Hello Inspector the 1973 INT thriller where she has been considered superior to Elizabeth Taylor essaying the role in Night Watch the Hollywood hit released that yearIt was Ruby I sought at each rehearsal after rounds of hihellos Sitting beside her was at once calming and energising educative and entertaining She was great fun As funny should be Pure ghelagaada Sans malice If backstage banter slid a bit into bitchiness hers was the softly lilted intervention Ummhmm chaalo lets rehearse againThat came from the way they were the finesse with which stars of our growing up years conducted themselves offstage Never mind how riotously incorrect read sexist classist ageist the scripts they followed on it The couples actorproducer daughter Shernaz was happiest at hideandseek with her siblings in corridors and greenrooms of halls like Birla Tejpal and Bharatiya Vidya BhavanmdashWe ran through men sticking on moustaches and women draping chiffon sarees We tiptoed between sets nailed in prop telephones getting wired Someone pinched my cheeks while practising lines Someone sang loudly doing a jig Someone quickly hushed himself cracking a not too clean joke as I passed There were nonstop laughs chai batata wadashellip this wonderful spirit of family only those in theatre understandTo talk theatre with Ruby was to be privy to an abiding passion that ran so deep it was her very life We travelled to Gujarat by bus with plays for a month every year she shared one evening Sent to live with my parents our three children were devastated Waving goodbye they threw Come home soon cards into our luggage Among compensating treats they demanded their favourite mithai from Ahmedabad Without realising it Ruby mentored several then aspiring actors In a condolence message to the Patels actor Darshan Jariwala has said Her superlative performances importantly taught me the discretion between truth and fallacy on stage I rate her streets ahead in Hello Inspector to Liz Taylor in Night Watch And thank God she walked on the stage when I began learning the craftAdi Marzban briefing Burjor and Ruby Patel for Mari Pachhi Kon a bittersweet 1958 drama with the actress in one of her favourite roles Pic courtesy Meher Marfatia Laughter in the house 20thCentury Parsi theatreTheatrical luminosity apart Ruby redefined grace In another note to Shernaz actress Karla Singh wrote Ruby and I worked together on my first play Noises Off I was scared and insecure but Ruby was gracious and reassuring I watched and learnt from her immense talent and impeccable comic timingHer nurturing instincts gently bubbled behind the scenes throughout our Laughter in the House experience She raised quality interaction with actors across ages to another level I caught fleeting glimpses of unforgettably warm moments Ruby hugging nervously waiting in the wings soprano Farah Ghadiali tenderly encouraging Sweetheart your voice is as beautiful as you are Ruby straining on tilted toes she the diminutive dynamo to tighten a bow on Danesh Khambattas dagli coat unravelling seconds before his entry Ruby politely requesting the pianist for a change to G Minor as the note to strike for her song Ruby worrying whether the NCPA canteen had fried enough chicken farchas as per her recipemdashshe was a fabulous cookmdashto serve as an interval snackActor Danesh Irani recalls When we first met Ruby Patel was sitting by the window of the NCPA Sea View Room It was the initial reading for Laughter in the House I had heard of her iconic performances and was in awe She carried herself with absolute grace dressed in signature kurta and pants hair perfectly brushed a smile on her face Over time Danesh Khambata and I grew close to her Danesh even more than me He referred to her as his girlfriend and Ruby Aunty loved itLeading the women in a spirited riposte to the men in the mock battlebetweenthesexes qawwali finale of Laughter in the House Pic Sooni TaraporevalaShe enjoyed different terms of endearment Rubs to Burjor and to Rahul da Cunha Ruby Mummy to Rajit Kapur Ruby Mai to Jim Vimadalal Ruby Ben to the Gujarati drama fraternity Aapri Ruby to the Parsi communityIs our actress supreme really at rest From her perch of peace she may just be showing the heavens a starry turn winning fresh fans in that firmament The stage lights here have dimmed Glow on up there dear RubyCatch up on all the latest Mumbai 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