in 2004, kaul staged "shakkar ke paanch daane", a dramatic monologue in hindi about a small-towner whose "structured middle-india existence begins to feel suspiciously like a lie." it featured actor kumud mishra, who was to become his longtime collaborator. the mumbai theatre guide wrote, "the final poetic denouement is neat, funny, reflective but unfortunately all too expected, all too perfect." the play was a stage hit and was performed in english in 2009, from a translation by arshia sattar.