Creative Director of ACT

Have received more than ‘20’ prestigious awards so far. The few worth mention are:

• On Republic Day (26^th 2025), the prestigious J&K Government Award (State Award) was conferred upon me.
• A Special award for contribution in the field of Theatre and Filmmaking by the Pune-based NGO ‘Sarhad’. The award was presented by Hon’ble Chief Minister Maharashtra Sh. Eknath Shinde Ji and Hon’ble Lt. Governor of J&K Sh. Manoj Sinha Ji, at Srinagar (17th Sep. 2023).
• Award of ‘Best Theatre Practitioner of the Year’, at Srinagar (1st Jun. 2023).
• ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by Hon’ble Lt. Governor of J&K, Sh. Manoj Sinha, at Srinagar (25th Oct. 2022).
• ‘Felicatated’ at Pune by a Pune-based NGO ‘Sarhad’ for successfully organizing ‘4’ editions of ‘Kashmir World Film Festival’ (30th Jan. 2019).
• Best direction award for the short film ‘Sula Mout’ by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, at Srinagar (12th Oct. 2015).
• ‘Awaaz Award’ for my contribution in the field of ‘Theatre, Radio & Television’, from Hon’ble Governor of J&K, Sh. N. N. Vohra, at Srinagar (20th Jan. 2014).
• 2^nd Best Production and consolation award for the films ‘Ek Afsana Chaman Ka’ and ‘Tresh Ta Tarpan’, in the first Film Festival / Competition of J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, at Jammu (Mar. 2010).
• ‘Award of Excellence’ for contribution in TV & Theatre from ‘Travel Agents Association of Kashmir’ (TAAK), at Srinagar (Oct. 2009).
• ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Set Designer’ awards for the stage play ‘Taqdeer Saaz’ in the Drama Festival, organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. The play directed by me, received a total of ‘8’ awards, at Srinagar (25th May 2009).
• ‘Best Direction’ and ‘Best Set Designer’ awards for the stage play ‘Ek Potli Armanoon Ki’ in the Drama Festival oganised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, at Srinagar (2006 – 07).
• Award of ‘Best Set Designer’ for the play ‘Jheel Bula Rahi Hai’, during the Doordarshan Srinagar’s Theatre Festival. The play directed by me also received the award of the ‘third best play’. These awards were presented by Hon’ble Governor of J&K, Gen. S. K. Sinha, at Srinagar (2005).
• ‘Best Actor Award’ for the stage play ‘Bhoma’, in the Drama Festival, organised by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Langages, at Srinagar (1986).
• ‘Special Prize’ for the performance in the stage play ‘Juloos’, in the Drama Festival, organised by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, at Srinagar (1983).

• Published the research work of the ‘Senior Fellowship’, which was awarded to me, in the field of folk theatre for a period of two years by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India (2009 – 2011).
• Have been presenting Papers in several important seminars, and capacity builing programmes including the following few :
• Presented a ‘Paper’ on the ‘5000 years Cultural History of Kashmir’, in a seminar which was held in Gulmarg and was attended by national and international delegates (Nov. 2024).
• Presented a ‘Key Note Paper’ on ‘Kashmir Theatre – present scenario, challenges and prospects’, in a Seminar held in collaboration with J&K academy of Art, Culture & Languages, at Srinagar. The seminar was attended by a good number of Theatre Directors, Theatre Artists and Art Lovers (Oct. 2024).
• Presented Papers alongwith practical demonstration on ‘Stage Play Writing’ for two days in the capacity building programme held at State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Srinagar, by J&K Govt. (Aug. 2024).
• Presented a Paper on Filmmaking – Navigating Challenges and celebrating victories, in the Masterclass held in the Nepal Cultural International Film Festival at Kathmandu, Nepal (March 2024).
• And many more.

Special Mention:

• Acknowledging my active role in cultural activities during my post-graduation, I was appointed the ‘Secretary’ of the Cultural Club of Kashmir University (1981).

Positions held:

• ‘Chairman’ / ‘Creative Director’ of one of the oldest and most reputed registered organisations of Kashmir ‘ACT – For A Better Tomorrow’ (previously called Actors’ Creative Theatre), established in
• ‘Chairman’ of a registered society called ‘Aficionado’. This society is working in the field of Social Work and was established in
• Consultant to North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala, at its Srinagar sub-office for two years (2018 – 19).
• Member of the Sub Advisory Committee for Drama of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for 5 years (2014 to 2019).

On the Panel of Experts / Jury Members:

• J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
• North Zone Cultural Centre (Patiala).
• Song and Drama Division (New Delhi).
• All India Radio (Srinagar).
• J&K State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)

Theatre:

• Performed leading roles in more than ‘50 stage plays’ in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Kashmiri, in Srinagar, Jammu, Allahabad and other cities, since 1980.
• Directed more than ‘35 stage plays’ in Kashmiri & Urdu, since 2005.
• Conducted more than ‘50 Capacity Building Seminars / Conferences’, since 2005.
• Conducted ‘4’ (four) production-oriented Theatre Workshops in 2009 and in 2012 at Srinagar, in 2014 under IGSSS (an international NGO), at Khanpeth, Baramulla and a 3-weeks Theatre Workshop in Feb. / Mar. 2023, at Srinagar.
• Organized ‘5’ (five) successful festivals of music, dance and drama’, including ‘2’ seasons of ‘Spring Theatre Festivals’ (in 2016 & 2022) and ‘3’ seasons of Youth Festival titled ‘Istaqbaal e Chila e Kalaan’ & Jashn e Sheen (in 2020, 2021 & 2024).

Radio:

• Approved ‘Drama Voice, Anchor and Newscaster’, of Akashvani (state owned Radio Channel).
• Participated in more than ‘100’ Radio Plays, Features and other Series, since 1976.
• Directed more than ‘15’ serials & features for Akashvani (state owned Radio Channel), since 2000.

Television:

• Started acting on Doordarshan (state owned TV Channel) as a ‘child artist’ since 1974.
• Presently an ‘A’ grade Drama artist of Doordarshan (state owned TV Channel) and have done lead roles in more than ‘35’ Tele – plays, ‘25’ Tele-films and more than ‘12’ serials in Kashmiri and Urdu since 1983.
• Working as a Freelance Producer & Director for Doordarshan (state owned TV Channel) since 1988.

• Have to my credit, more than ‘10’ Tele-films, more than ‘400’ episodes of about ‘40’ Serials.

Filmmaking:

• Produced and Directed more than ‘15’ Documentary Films / Ad. Films for the state departments, including the J&K Tourism, J&K Excise & Taxation and the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Have more than ‘25’ Short Films to my credit.

Flagship Creative Entity (Film Festivals):

• I am the film festival maestro and the visionary behind the prestigious ‘Kashmir World Film Festival’ (KWFF). I have been instrumental in its conceptualisation and effective execution. I have led the successful organisation of ‘4’ (four) editions since its inception.
• In 2022, I also Curated and Directed the first Edition of Sarhad’s Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival in Pune (India).