Creative Support

Geetanjali Kulkarni
Actor & Theatre Educator

Geetanjali Kulkarni is a renowned actor in Hindi-Marathi theatre, films, and television. Her acclaimed plays include Piya Behrupiya, Gajab Kahani, and Sex Morality and Censorship, while her film credits feature Court, Mukti Bhavan, Anandi Gopal, and Photograph.

A founder member of The Drama School, Mumbai, Geetanjali has been associated with QUEST since its inception. The Goshtarang initiative grew out of her theatre workshops for rural teachers and children, where she served as project head in its early years and directed several stories for the program.

Chinmay Kelkar
Writer, Director & Actor

Chinmay Kelkar has been active in theatre for over 20 years as a writer, director, and actor. A graduate of the Centre for Performing Arts, Pune University, he has created experimental plays and acted in Hindi and Marathi short films.

Closely associated with Goshtarang since its inception, Chinmay specializes in dramatizing children’s literature for engaging performances.

Nilesh Nimkar
Founder Trustee & Director, Quality Education Support Trust (QUEST)

With over 20 years of experience in early childhood and elementary education, Nilesh Nimkar leads QUEST—an organization pioneering rural and tribal education in Maharashtra. Through innovative, context-driven solutions, QUEST has impacted over 100,000 underprivileged children.

Nilesh’s work spans teacher capacity building, curriculum development, and literacy research, including collaborations with Azim Premji University and Tata Trusts. He also advises leading urban educational institutions.

Recipient of the Maharashtra Foundation Award (2011) and Extraordinary Early Childhood Education Leadership Award (2017), Nilesh continues to champion equitable, quality education for all.

Vaibhav Lokur
Theatre Artist & Educator

Vaibhav Lokur holds a Master’s in Theatre Arts from Savitribai Phule Pune University (2015). He is the recipient of the Inlaks Theatre Award (2017) and a former CCRT Junior Research Fellow. Founder of Khula Asmaan in Belgaum, Vaibhav has directed plays and conducted workshops across India

He has trained in Yakshagana music and worked as Project Officer at QUEST (2019–2023). Vaibhav introduced Applied Theatre and Theatre for Early Years to the Goshtarang Fellowship in 2022–23.

Shaili Sathyu
Artistic Director, Gillo Repertory Theatre

Shaili Sathyu leads Gillo Repertory Theatre, India’s pioneering company dedicated to theatre for young audiences. Since 2003, she has written and directed over ten plays, including Kyun-Kyun Ladki, Mister Jeejeebhoy and the Birds, and Chidiya, Udd!. Under her leadership, Gillo has produced 20+ plays, staged 500+ shows, and reached more than 110,000 children across India.

A recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Shaili has also served as Honorary Secretary of ASSITEJ India. She continues to share her expertise through workshops, including Theatre for Early Years sessions for Goshtarang Fellows.

Aanand Chabukswar
Applied Theatre Practitioner & Dramatherapist

Aanand Chabukswar has been active in theatre since childhood, working as a writer, director, and actor. His productions based on Marathi poetry have a distinctive appeal. With a background in Economics and English Literature, he trained in Dramatherapy in the UK and co-directed international projects in Romania.

For 18 years, Aanand contributed to developing the Arts-Based Therapy (ABT) model in India with WCCL Foundation, Pune. He has taught, supervised, and researched ABT extensively, with publications in international journals and Routledge (UK/USA). Aanand conducts drama education workshops across India and teaches Applied Theatre at Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Since 2022, he has been leading Applied Theatre workshops for Goshtarang Fellows.

Sananda Mukhopadhyaya
Theatre Maker & Arts-Based Educator

Sananda Mukhopadhyaya creates theatre for early years, exploring materials, movement, and musicality. Her first play for babies, Warp and Weft, was developed under international mentorship as part of Shishu-Baban (2017). She later directed Oool for Tram Arts Trust (2018) and has since created works like Hanv Gara Asa (Serendipity Arts Festival, 2019), Golla (Ranga Shankara, 2021), Ee Gida, Aa Mara (2022), and most recently Saglejan Kheltat / Everyone Plays commissioned by QUEST for Goshtarang (2023).

Sananda continues to innovate in theatre for young audiences through collaborations and mentorships across India and abroad.

Payal Patil
Visual Artist & Designer

A passionate and dedicated artist, Payal Patil creates striking properties that bring stories to life. Associated with Goshtarang since 2017, she designs backdrops and costumes that enhance every performance.

An engineering graduate turned full-time artist, Payal established her brand pcube arts, focusing on painting and creative design. Her work adds color and character to Goshtarang’s theatrical world.

Shantanu Herlekar
Singer, Composer & Music Educator

Born into a musical family, Shantanu Herlekar is a student of classical music under his father Nandan Herlekar and renowned vocalist Shubha Mudgal. A history graduate from the University of Mumbai, he also studied Electronic Music Production at the School of Audio Engineering.

Shantanu works as a singer, composer, and arranger in the Mumbai music industry. For Goshtarang, he conducts music workshops and creates original songs for each story performed, adding a unique musical dimension to the productions.

Vidyanidhi (Prasad) Vanarase
Theatre Director & Educator

Vidyanidhi Vanarase, an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, founded Abhijaat Rangabhoomi in Pune in 1985. He has directed over 50 plays and performed 300+ street shows on socially relevant themes.

Prasad has conducted theatre training in Marathi, Hindi, Konkani, Kannada, and English, and served as visiting faculty and guest director at leading universities and theatre institutes. His work has earned him awards such as Best Director on Experimental Stage (Natya Darpan, 1998) and Best Director Award (Kala Gaurav Pratishthan, Pune).

Sameer Dublay
Hindustani Classical Vocalist & Composer

Sameer Dublay is a professional vocalist in the Hindustani Classical tradition. He trained under Pandit Rambhau Mate (1978–1988) and later under the legendary Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki of the Agra Gharana. He also studied with renowned musician and musicologist Dr. Ashok Da. Ranade.

Currently a faculty member at FLAME University, Sameer has composed music for Goshtarang productions (2017–2018), bringing classical depth and creativity to children’s theatre.

Akshay Shimpi
Actor, Director, Poet, Dastango

Akshay Shimpi has been a full-time professional actor and writer since 2010. He has performed in acclaimed Marathi plays such as Kay Danger Varaa Sutlay, Punashcha Honeymoon, Agadich Shunya, and Mr. & Mrs., as well as Hindi productions like Hayavadana and Ram Sajeevan Ki Premkatha. His work spans theatre, films (1909, Chakki, Salesman, Hijda), and television, including notable roles in Navari Mile Navryala (Sony Marathi) and Lokmanya (Zee Marathi).

A voice training faculty at Drama School Mumbai, Akshay introduced the Urdu art form of Dastangoi to Marathi audiences through performances like Dastaan-e-Badi Banka and Dastaan-e-Ramji. He is also a published poet with two collections: Bincheharyache Kabhinn Tukade (2020) and Avyakrut (2025), and has translated Piyush Babele’s book Nehru: Myth and Truth into Marathi.

Recipient of prestigious fellowships and awards, including the Shankar Shesh Foundation Scholarship, Sharad Pawar Inspire Fellowship, Sahitya Akademi Travel Grant, and multiple literary honors, Akshay continues to enrich theatre and literature with his versatile artistry.

Sachin Gaonkar
Artist, Set Designer & Mental Health Advocate

Sachin Gaonkar is a versatile artist who completed his Bachelor’s degree in sculpture from Sir J. J. School of Art. He began his career as a sculptor and simultaneously started working with Marathi theatre. He collaborated with renowned writers and directors in Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, and English theatre as a set designer for several productions. He is also a passionate cyclist who completed a solo Bharat Parikrama in 2015 for mental health awareness to celebrate 25 years of IPH.

He joined IPH in 2000 as a freelance visual artist. Within a short period, he became strongly attached to the mission of IPH. Consequently, he accepted a responsible role as trustee and Avahan coordinator in IPH since 2010. He developed the Avahan YouTube channel with his teammates, featuring various documentaries, inspiring interviews, and success stories. With a sense of responsibility towards society, he is committed to expanding Avahan IPH and the mission ‘Mental Health for All.’