Quick answer: Prithvi Theatre is an intimate, non-profit theatre in Juhu, Mumbai, opened on 5 November 1978 by actor Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kendal Kapoor in memory of his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. It stages plays in Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati, plus music and dance, from Tuesday to Sunday. There is no entry fee to the compound or its café; you pay only for show tickets. As of October 2026, the theatre’s website lists box office hours of 1 pm to 9 pm, closed on Mondays.
Prithvi Theatre at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Juhu, Mumbai |
| Run by | Shri Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust & Research Foundation (non-profit) |
| Opened | 5 November 1978 |
| Shows | Tuesday to Sunday; closed on Mondays for maintenance and technical rehearsals |
| Box office | 1 pm to 9 pm, closed on Mondays (prithvitheatre.org, October 2026) |
| Entry fee | No fee to enter the compound or café; show tickets are priced per production |
| Prithvi Café | 11 am to 10 pm, every day (prithvitheatre.org, October 2026) |
| Time needed | About 2 to 3 hours for a play and a cup of chai at the café |
Ticket prices depend on the play and are shown when you book through the theatre’s website (prithvitheatre.org, which uses BookMyShow for ticketing) or at the box office. An earlier version of this article gave a range of ₹125 to ₹400 per ticket; we could not confirm current prices, so check the listing for the show you want.
What is Prithvi Theatre?
Prithvi Theatre is one of Mumbai’s best-known venues for live theatre. According to the theatre, it stages more than 640 shows a year, with average attendance of around 80%. Its programme includes serious drama, comedy, stand-up, music and dance, so audiences with very different tastes find something to watch.
The theatre describes its approach as open and welcoming. The compound has no main gate, only an opening off the lane, and visiting theatre groups are invited to treat the space as their home for the days they perform. The auditorium itself is small: a thrust stage with the audience seated close on three sides. Seating is unreserved, so people often queue before the doors open.
History of Prithvi Theatre
Prithvi Theatres, the touring company (1944)
The story starts with Prithviraj Kapoor, one of the founding figures of Hindi cinema. In 1944 he founded Prithvi Theatres, a travelling company of about 150 people that toured India staging plays in Hindustani. Its first production was Kalidasa’s Shakuntala. Over some 16 years the company gave more than 2,600 performances of plays such as Deewar, Pathan, Ghaddar, Aahuti, Kalakar, Paisa and Kisaan, and Prithviraj Kapoor played the lead in every production. His film earnings funded the company. Many of the plays dealt with social and national questions of the time, including communal harmony.
Prithviraj Kapoor was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1952 to 1960. The old version of this article said he kept travelling second class with his troupe even as an MP; that story is often repeated but we could not find a reliable source, so it has been left out.
The permanent theatre in Juhu (1978)
Prithviraj Kapoor wanted a permanent home for his company, and in 1962 he leased a plot in Juhu for the purpose. Ill health and his death in 1972 stopped the plan. His youngest son, Shashi Kapoor, and Shashi’s wife, the English actor Jennifer Kendal, then bought the land and set up the Shri Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust & Research Foundation. The theatre’s own website says the trust was set up in 1975, with aims that include promoting professional theatre (Hindi theatre primarily), providing a well-equipped space at reasonable cost, and supporting theatre workers.
The building was designed by architect Ved Segan around an octagonal thrust stage, and it opened on 5 November 1978. The first play was Udhwastha Dharmashala by G. P. Deshpande, performed by Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Benjamin Gilani.
After 1984
Jennifer Kendal Kapoor supervised the building and ran the theatre until her death in September 1984. Shashi Kapoor served as managing trustee, and their son Kunal Kapoor took over day-to-day management. Their daughter, Sanjna Kapoor, joined in 1993 and led many of the theatre’s workshops and children’s programmes before stepping away in 2012. Kunal Kapoor is now the managing trustee.
What to see and do
- Watch a play. Prithvi curates plays in Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati. Check the current listings on the theatre’s website before you go.
- Prithvi Café. The open-air café in the compound, shaded by trees and bamboo, is a meeting place for actors, writers and theatregoers. The theatre highlights its Irish coffee, cutting chai, Sulemani chai and Kashmiri kahwa. The old version of this article recommended specific dishes and said a well-known lyricist favoured one tea; we have dropped those details because menus change and the anecdote could not be checked.
- Prithvi Bookshop. A small shop in the compound stocks plays and books on theatre and the performing arts in Hindi, English and Urdu.
- Festivals and concerts. The annual Prithvi Theatre Festival is usually held in November, and the Prithvi Memorial Concert takes place on 28 February, Jennifer Kendal’s birthday. The theatre also runs workshops and summer programmes for children.
Rules and tips for visitors
- Arrive early. Entry opens 15 minutes before the show, but seating is unreserved, so regulars queue earlier.
- No late entry or re-entry. Once a show begins you will not be let in, and if you step out you may not be allowed back during the performance.
- Phones fully off. The theatre asks for phones to be switched off, not on silent, because even screen light disturbs the actors and audience.
- Parking. There is no parking inside the Janki Kutir or Prithvi premises. The theatre points to a pay-and-park facility opposite Mahesh Lunch Home.
- Book ahead for popular plays. The auditorium is small, so well-reviewed plays and weekend shows can sell out.
How to reach Prithvi Theatre
- Suburban rail: Vile Parle and Andheri on the Western line are the closest suburban stations. From either, take an auto-rickshaw or taxi to Juhu Church Road.
- By road: Taxis and app cabs reach Juhu from anywhere in the city. Parking is limited, so public transport or a cab is easier.
- By air: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is in the western suburbs, a relatively short drive from Juhu compared with South Mumbai.
Places to visit near Prithvi Theatre
- Juhu Beach is close by, good for a sunset walk and street food before an evening show.
- The ISKCON temple in Juhu is in the same neighbourhood.
- Versova Beach, with its fishing village, lies just north of Juhu.
- For a different side of Mumbai’s entertainment world, see our guide to Film City (Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari) in Goregaon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prithvi Theatre open on Monday?
No. There are no shows on Mondays, which the theatre keeps for maintenance and technical rehearsals, and the box office is closed that day.
Is there an entry fee for Prithvi Theatre?
No. You can walk into the compound, café and bookshop for free. You only need a ticket to watch a show, and prices vary by production.
Who built Prithvi Theatre?
Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal Kapoor built the present theatre in memory of Prithviraj Kapoor. It was designed by architect Ved Segan and opened on 5 November 1978. The original Prithvi Theatres was a touring company founded by Prithviraj Kapoor in 1944.
How do I book tickets for Prithvi Theatre?
Book through the “Book Tickets” link on prithvitheatre.org, which uses BookMyShow, or at the box office between 1 pm and 9 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
Can I enter after the play has started?
No. Because the auditorium is so intimate, the theatre does not admit latecomers once the show begins.
Timings, rules and history in this guide were checked in October 2026 against Prithvi Theatre’s official website and published histories of the theatre. Show schedules and ticket prices change, so check the listing before you go.
