Known for his long-standing opposition to political interference in the arts, Dutt reiterated his belief that art serves as a unifying force where politics often creates divisions.

For his final act, Dutt chose to turn to William Shakespeare, reimagining “King Lear” in a contemporary context, which he titled “Aro Ekta Lear” (Another Lear).

Inspired by Shakespeare’s “King Lear”, “Aro Ekta Lear” is set to premiere in November, and Dutt believes it’s the perfect piece to bring his theatrical career full circle. “When I perform this play in November, I will be 71 years old,” Dutt said in an interview with an Indian newspaper. “I don’t see myself just as a director. I act in the plays I direct. At my age, the physical demands of theatre are becoming too much, so I thought it was time to make this decision.”