ACT Celebrates Historic Golden Jubilee, Marking 50 Years of Theatre and Cultural Service in Kashmir

​Srinagar, November 12, 2026: ACT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW, one of Kashmir’s oldest and most respected theatre organisations, celebrated its historic Golden Jubilee in Srinagar on Wednesday, commemorating five decades of uninterrupted service to performing arts, culture, and society across Jammu and Kashmir.

​The milestone event, hosted at the Amar Singh Club, drew a large gathering of politicians, bureaucrats, veteran artists, writers, scholars, journalists, and art enthusiasts from across the Valley. The celebration featured cultural performances, musical interludes, and theatrical excerpts from ACT’s landmark stage productions, alongside the release of a Golden Jubilee souvenir and a special documentary chronicling the organisation’s 50-year journey.

​Addressing the gathering, ACT Chairman Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan who has steered the organisation for over four decades as an actor, director, set designer, and organiser reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the region. “Theatre is and will remain the soul of ACT. For 50 years, we have performed not for fame, but for the people of Kashmir,” Khan said. “Our journey is a story of passion, sacrifice, and honest creative labour. Today, we renew our pledge to serve Kashmir for the next 50 years.”

​Five Decades of Artistic Milestones

​Over the past 50 years, ACT has staged more than two dozen major productions known for socially relevant themes, including Jheel Bula Rahi Hai, Ek Potli Armanoon Ki (winner of 8 awards), Taqdeer Saaz (winner of 9 awards), Negative (recognized as the first-ever play staged on a floating platform in Dal Lake), Sabarmati Ka Sant, Sanyasi, Pagla Ghoda, and Deewana Bana De. The group has earned over a dozen major accolades in the last two decades, including the Chinar Art Foundation Award, two Infotel Awards, and multiple Best Production, Best Direction, and Best Set Design honours from Doordarshan and the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

​Beyond stage productions, ACT has emerged as a key cultural organizer in the Valley—spearheading five editions of the Kashmir World Film Festival (J&K’s largest film festival), three Spring Theatre Festivals, the Istaqbaal-e-Chilla-e-Kalan and Jashn-e-Sheen festivals, and the inaugural three-day Kashmir Theatre Conference in September 2026. It has also observed World Theatre Day every March 27 for 21 consecutive years without interruption.

​Dignitaries and Media Felicitation

​Prominent dignitaries in attendance included Tanvir Sadiq, Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Dr. Rafi Ahmad, Syed Tajamul Islam, Sujada Basheer, Shahnawaz Bukhari, Ahsan Chisti, Suman Raina, Amit Wanchoo, Mehjabeen Nabi, Prof. Tariq Abdullah, Rauf Tramboo, Rauf Punjabi, Roma Wani, Shabnum Ashai, Zameer Ashai, G.M. Wani, Shahzad Rasool, Hussein Khan, Ameen Bhat, Mushtaq Bala, Mir Aijaz, Mir Sarwar, Shafeeq Quraishi, Waheed Jeelani, Raja Bilal, Ashiq Peerzada, Tahir Mohi Uddin, and Parvez Majeed.

​During the ceremony, ACT felicitated veteran artists, founding members, and representatives from Kashmir’s print, electronic, and digital media fraternity with mementos in recognition of their decades-long partnership. The event was sponsored by Kashmir Movietone and Halal Nation, supported by Amar Singh Club, with Gabfire as branding partner and Rampage Advertising Agency as advertising partner.