Theatre empowers you: Padma Shri awardee 

Padma Shri awardee Pran Sabharwal, 95, on Wednesday said "theatre empowers you and keeps you determined" after receiving coveted "Pritam Singh Oberoi National Theatre Festival Lifetime Achievement Award 2025.

He was the chief guest at a dramatic a performance during the 7-day National Theatre Festival at Kali Dass Auditorium, NZCC, here.

Prof Sabharwal's wife Sunita Sabharwal, an International theatre activist, was also honoured on the occasion. Prof Sabharwal, who witnessed performances on all seven days, expressed gratitude to international philanthropist Dr SP Singh Oberoi (Dubai), Chief Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust, the lone sponsor, Jaswant Singh Zaffar, Director, Language, M Furqan Khan Sahib, Director, NZCC, Karam Jogi team of Parminder Pal Kaur and Gopal Sharma for honouring him.

Prof Sabharwal appreciated the quality production from groups across the country and exhorted theatre activists to find out philanthropists to keep the theatre movement alive. They should awaken central and state governments to join hands in strengthening theatre, he stressed.