‘Going to the circus should be like a dream’

Sujit Dilip, who has spent nearly 30 years with Rambo Circus, speaks about how they are keeping the art form alive despite many hardships

Falah Faisal | NT

Bengaluru: When you think of circuses, one of the first that comes to mind is Rambo Circus, having been featured in films like Luck By Chance and Mujhse Dosti Karoge. Started in 1991 by PT Dilip, it is now run by his son, Sujit Dilip who is a second-generation circus owner says that someone going to the circus should be like a dream. He is also looking to innovate and take their circus to the next level by touring the act in auditoriums.

On how he got into the circus, Sujit says, “The circus had gone for an international tour where due to stress, my father had a heart attack. So when he returned and needed help with the circus, I stopped my studies after 12th and started working with him.”

“In the initial years, we had a lot of animals but when the animals went away my father sent me abroad to study new ways to entertain people. With innovation, we are keeping the art form alive,” he said. When the circus took a hit during the pandemic, Rambo Circus innovated by doing online shows and doing special shows for students to keep going when other circuses shut.

“Being in the circus, we are like family and it is a journey of sorrow and happiness and we did our best to keep our artists active, we even did Zumba dance to stay fit,” said Sujit. With many of the new generations having so many forms of entertainment, how does the circus remain relevant and draw them in?

“We are constantly engaged in research and development. We find out what kind of music and lighting the youth like, what combination of acts keep them engaged and keep pushing for what works best,” said Sujit, who took the circus into the auditorium space by performing at the prestigious Prithvi Theater in Mumbai 10 years ago.

He hopes that soon he will be able to take the circus international, having already represented India at the World Circus Day Celebration, 2011 at Monte Carlo. Rambo Circus will be performing three shows a day until Jan 1st at St. John’s Auditorium.