India, Nov. 2 -- Earlier this month, a video circulated on social media claiming that Mumbai's iconic Prithvi Theatre was shutting down. However, later in the video, it was clarified that it was only undergoing renovation ahead of the Prithvi Theatre Festival, which started yesterday. Actor and trustee Zahan Kapoor says he was amused by the reactions. "Every October for the last 10 years, Prithvi shuts operations for about three weeks, before we reopen with the festival. During this time, we do maintenance and renovation. This year the communication happened in a slightly impactful way. Ye hamari masti thi and maine bola ki karte hain thoda, log darr jayenge," he shares. The actor said they announced renovations online for the first time. "It proved that people read the headline and not the whole article. The reaction was surprising but it also made me happy as people's reactions showed the theatre holds deep value beyond our circle. It was just a playful reminder that closing it would affect many people," he says. Zahan on the venue's importance in his life: "It's my second biggest influence after my parents which has exposed me to art, culture and people nationwide." He acknowledges the medium's limitations: "Our problem is that to support your entire life financially from theatre is difficult. It's not the easiest thing in the world. Screen is the way which is sustainable economically. I've been told that my grandfather was having a great time being on stage and touring the country in the mid '50s. He started touring with his father's company Prithvi Theatres performing with his new wife Jennifer. Jab shaadi hui, aur bachche hue they started thinking paise kaise kamayenge? The straight option there was ki filmon mein jaake hum career banayenge, paise kamayenge." "From Prithviraj ji's time they all knew that economics was stronger in cinema than it was in theatre. Today it's important to talk about theatre to celebrate live performance and to inculcate these values in our society because today, you are seeing a shift," he adds. Zahan believes theatre's value will grow in the future. "IRL is the new luxury, I don't know when it will happen in India, but in the West, A-listers are doing performances on stage. I think they have realised that to be live on stage is a higher value proposition," he ends....