One of the most path-breaking plays in recent times, 'The Vagina Monologues' finishes 100 episodes this month.

Jayati Bhatia, one of the five protagonists in the play, cheers the way it has changed women's lives... hers too the theme of 'The Vagina Monologues' (TVM) is to spread the word about 'vaginas'. Why do you think it is necessary for people to talk about it?

People, and more so women, are so quiet about these issues.

I don't see why. It's a part of you, isn't it? When people laugh about something, they become more open about it. Like when you laugh at yourself, it endears you to people. They warm up to you.

It tells them that you know what you are all about and they accept you for who you are. In the same way, when people talk and laugh about the issues that are discussed in 'TVM' - women, pubic hair, orgasms, rape - they are coming out in the open with these issues, they're sharing their psyches, their understanding of these situations. A simple example: There's a piece on a man who loves looking at his lover's pubic hair. Women have gone home and spoken about this guy to their husbands... how they've never met anyone like him and that he has such a refreshing point of view. This way, men and women discuss their innermost feelings, topics they've never discussed before... and once couples do that, they're at peace.

Do you think women directors bring anything extra to the table by the simple virtue of being women?

Definitely. Their understanding of human emotions and conflicts is amazing and because of that, they are capable of extracting 120 per cent from you in a performance. I don't know what it is, maybe it's because they're wives, mothers, daughters. Women are complex individuals and hence their understanding

of complex emotions is much higher. Of course, men directors who are innovative, who understand and respect women, are open-minded, also bring out the best in a performer, but they have to be as sensitive and as open as women are.

How did you research these issues... these women that you've talked about in the play?

The original writer, Eve Ensler, had already done the groundwork. The research, the conversations with the women from Bosnia and Kosovo were already done. She wrote out 12 monologues. We added two - 'My Short Skirt' and 'Burkha', later. We explored each issue thoroughly with each other at rehearsals. Our first assignment was to go home and look at our vaginas. And come back and talk about it. Discussions would follow for hours together about things we had read and heard, about every issue that we touch upon in the play... some fun, others disturbing. In that sense, every rehearsal was a workshop.

How has this play changed you... as a woman?

Oh, in so many ways. The first breaktrhough was when we looked at and talked about our vaginas. Then, at rehearsals one day, we discussed our first sexual experiences... some awful, some fantastic.

We talked about how as adolescents, we were confused about leering uncles, men brushing up against us, and the like. I am from Delhi, I have been brought up being scared of a vagina. Really! I used to feel sorry for being a woman and thought it was just the unfortunate 'done thing' for men to pinch me, brush up against my breasts in busy streets. And I was always terrified. Today, if I can talk about these and other such experiences with my friends, with you, so openly, it means I am not scared any more. And that's what 'TVM' does for people; it opens them up and makes them strong. Today, after knowing so much about issues, God help anyone who tries to take advantage of me. It does happen, but now I react. At shoots, if men act fresh or look where they're not supposed to, I just glare and say, loud enough for everyone to hear, 'Hanji? Aap kya dekh rahe hai? (Yes? What are you looking at?)' and watch them turn away in embarrassment. I now question 'the done thing'.

There was a joint performance with the original cast in Mumbai. Pakistani, American and Indian women - all of you shared one platform?

The stories in 'TVM' are real... they might be about women from Bosnia and Kosovo, but their problems are universal. These issues are about every woman, all over the world. And the commitment to spread that message became apparent when the writer Eve Ensler, Jane Fonda and Merrisa Tomei came to India to perform with us. When I met them at a press conference for the first time, they recognised me because of the clips and pictures they had seen of our performances. The minute I went in, Eve called out, "Heyyy, my moaner!' (I do a comic medley of orgasmic moans in one piece). They didn't pose for any pictures without one of us in the frame... because they were here to represent 'TVM' and we were the Indian faces of the show. Two women joined us from Pakistan. They had performed at the American embassy there. I think it's such a big deal to perform a play like this in Pakistan. When we performed, it was magical. I was shivering with the excitement of sharing a platform with such strong and talented women!

Your character in 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi' is a woman wronged by her husband. 'TVM' is all about strong women. Are you consciously taking these roles?

I think I attract these 'misfit' type roles! Maybe it's something to do with the way I moved from Delhi to Mumbai. When I came to Mumbai, I was thrown into the elite South Mumbai theatre circuit without knowing anyone. I didn't even know what a prawn thermador was! Mahabano (Kotwal) told me to be myself and people would accept me. She made me comfortable with who I am. I think that's the image I project - one of complete confidence... so maybe, that's why I get these roles.

I can't resist asking about the moan medley. Did you have any apprehensions doing it at all?

When Mahabano first gave me the part, I was apprehensive. I asked her, 'You want me to do... THAT?' She said that there is a lot of innocence in me and if something is done with such innocence and abandon, it couldn't go wrong. When we assembled at Dolly's (Thakore) house for the reading, she had carpenters, a computer repair fellow and a theatre group in the house. I started doing this piece. And I was loud! My moans filled the house. Everyone froze and stared. The computer man and Dolly didn't know where to look! And Mahabano kept on laughing!

Hundred shows... looks like women's issues have found a pretty good platform...

I cannot believe we've finished 100 shows. Eighty-five of these were in Mumbai. And it's still going house full. Two years ago, at the first show, we were scared.

I thought people might throw stones at us for the explicit nature of the issues. But I think the people of Mumbai are amazing. True, some people did find it titillating (I don't know how!) but by and large, the response has been very positive. Women have gone home with a feeling that men have been enlightened. People who would never have uttered the word, are asking me when the next 'vagina' play is. That means the word is spreading... and that's what we wanted all along!

As told to Sejal Mehta