In dimly lit venues across India’s metro cities, performers take the stage with nothing but a word from the audience. No script, no rehearsed lines, no safety net. What unfolds is the magic of pure spontaneity: scenes built from scratch, emerging from collective creativity, characters shaped in real time but feel lived in, and comedy that rises not from punchlines but the unpredictable chaos of human connection.This is improvisational theatre – improv – and it’s quietly revolutionising India’s creative culture. What makes it compelling is that improv turns the audience into active participants, inviting them to contribute ideas, suggest topics, or offer a single word that becomes the focal point of an entire performance.But, what has led to the growth of this art form in recent years?From niche to mainstream“Who says I have that confidence?” asks Neville Bharucha, founder of The Sandbox Creative Academy, when asked about filling auditoriums for improv shows. “Every time we have a show at a big venue like the NCPA, I check the ticket link every two hours to make sure tickets are selling.”Yet Bharucha has witnessed something remarkable: a steady stream of returning audiences. “Today one person shows up, and tomorrow they come back with three more. It’s such a euphoric live experience that once you attend an improv show, 90 per cent of the time, you’ll return,” he tells indianexpress.com. “The people who come for classes are very diverse and in fact, people who do not come from a performing arts background find it the most beneficial,” says Neville Bharucha.This word-of-mouth momentum is driving India’s improv scene shift from niche to mainstream. Mumbai and Bangalore have emerged as major hubs, and Delhi-NCR and some smaller cities are rapidly catching up. “Now we can just jump on stage and say ‘we’re doing some improv’, and the audience is ready,” says Bharucha.The form’s appeal lies in its unpredictability, with every show being a unique experience that cannot be replicated.Story continues below this adThe therapeutic revolutionWhat sets India’s improv scene apart is its emphasis on mental health and emotional healing. Gaurav Singh Nijjer, general manager at Kaivalya Plays, explains how his group prioritises performer wellbeing: “In 2018, we received the inaugural Refunction grant from the Goethe-Institut to create Unravel, a full-length production exploring improv’s therapeutic effects on mental health.”One of their unique practices is the concept of a “safe spot” during sessions. “At any point, if someone feels uncomfortable, they can go to their chosen spot in the room. No one is allowed to interact with them there. It gives them agency and emotional control,” says Nijjer.For some, improv has even helped address, and heal, childhood trauma. Mrinal Gautam, who facilitates workshops in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, recalls his first encounter: “Standing at a distance from an improv troupe playing in Mumbai, I felt a wave of fear wash over me, goosebumps, sweaty palms, a mild panic attack,” he recalls. “But as I walked away, something shifted. I thought, ‘I’m done letting this fear run my life’.”His journey illustrates improv’s transformative power. “Core improv tenets like ‘Yes, and…,’ ‘Take care of your partner,’ ‘Be silly,’ ‘Take risks,’ and ‘Stop pretending, start being yourself’ weren’t just stage directions; they were life teachings. Slowly, they began to shape how I lived,” says Gautam.Story continues below this adBeyond the stageThe benefits of improv extend well beyond the performance space. Ankur Sardana, founder of the Nautankibaaz Improv Collective and a professional design leader, sees substantial overlap between improv and creative professions. “Skills like empathy, spontaneity, storytelling and imagination are equally important for good designers and good improvisers,” he tells indianexpress.com.“Without any exaggeration, I can confirm that teaching and practising improv makes you a better person. First, during those two hours you jam, and then slowly, in life,” he says. “Being a design leader, I am amazed at the cross-section of skillsets needed to be a good designer or a good improviser,” said Ankur Sardana (Source: Nautankibaaz Improv Collective)Bharucha agrees and says, “People who don’t come from performing arts backgrounds benefit the most. It helps boost their confidence, gets them to think quickly and more than anything, people find a new group of friends.”For many, improv also offers a counterbalance to rigid work-life structures. “I hated the fact that I could not have a 9-to-5 job and also enjoy what the performing arts gave me,” said Bharucha, explaining why more people, regardless of their background, must get involved, just like he did. “But it’s like sport—you don’t have to be a pro athlete to enjoy playing. Similarly, anyone can enjoy improv.”Story continues below this adCrossovers with stand-up and actingImprov’s rise in the country coincides with interesting developments in India’s comedy scene. Stand-up comedian Jackie Thakkar observes, “Look at the latest viral stand-up clips – they’re mostly crowd work,” says stand-up comedian Jackie Thakkar. “Stand-up comics are adopting and embracing improvisational setups to crack their jokes.”Actor Sarthak Kathuria finds improv to be instrumental, even in scripted work. “With scripts, you know the context, you feel secure. But improv teaches you to build that context in real time.”He recalls memorable exercises, such as the “Alphabet Improv” game, where each line of dialogue must start with the next letter of the alphabet. Another favourite is from clowning practice – wordless scenes based entirely on exaggerated physical traits or quirks. “You enter with a limp, or mimic a karate player. It forces you to commit fully to character. It’s about being a goofball and making people laugh without saying a word,” he said.