The imagination is a wonderful place where ideas take root and blossom. The crushing crowds in Mumbai’s local trains haven’t stopped Ami Bhansali from adding a dreamy twist to the monotony of her daily routine.

“I was sitting in a local train, wondering how this practice of selling trinkets to passengers started. My hypothesis was that a woman in love had started it, so that her girlfriend could buy jhumkis whenever she wanted,” says Ami, who admits that she loves watching people try on, buy and sell these traditional bell-shaped danglers on trains.

This flight of imagination first took shape as a short story in a writer’s workshop, before it became a play in which he collaborated with Nidhi Krishna, and Ami is absolutely candid Jhumkewali is, “a love story, not a coming out story”.

According to Ami, the recent passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 is making many people in the community feel unsafe and one such story is Jhumkewali Will be a welcome relief. “We have some non-binary and trans people on our team, and it’s important to us to keep making queer and trans-centered art, and do our part to spread queer joy.”

Scenes from previous stagings of Jhumkewali
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Established in 1974, Jhumkewali It is a sweet story of first love between two college-going Rekha and Bindu, who first bond over their interest in earrings. The drama follows them as they revel in the headiness of a budding romance despite the events happening around them.

Ami Arjun appreciates the efforts of Kabir Kakkar and his show body ton cross On being a trans-man, and Anurit Watta’s Don’t come in between when we dance, A film about a group of quirky friends and others whose actions spread awareness about their lives.

“The whole idea of ​​this play, especially in current times, is to provide gay and trans people a space where they don’t have to worry about how hard the outside world is. When they’re watching the play in the theater, we want them to feel happy and safe, and enjoy this celebration of love.”

Ami says when Jhumkewali Started about a year ago, the team never imagined that this simple love story with a touch of humor would “grow into something much bigger”. Since then, apart from an online screening for NAMNAM Collective in Tokyo, it has been staged several times in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi.

Written by Ami Bhansali and directed by Nidhi Krishna and Mekhala, Jhumkewali Produced by House of Bhaus, the song will be performed for the first time in Bengaluru by Lauren Robinson and Harshini Mishra.

(earrings) To be staged at Jagriti Theater on June 27; 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm. Tickets, priced at ₹500, are available on BookMyShow.)