The musical “The Lunchbox” debuts this May at Berkeley Rep, starring leads fresh from Broadway and featuring an award-winning creative team.

The world-premiere is adapted from the successful 2013 film of the same name. Set in the bustling city of Mumbai, the story follows a misdirected food delivery, which connects Ila, a lonely housewife, and Saajan, a jaded office worker. They begin exchanging handwritten notes tucked inside a lunchbox tin, forging an unlikely connection that changes their lives. This joyful and tender new production celebrates the handmade, the intimate, and, above all, the unexpected moments that bring strangers together.  

“The Lunchbox” runs, May 17-June 28 at the Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St. Buy tickets today online.

The musical’s lead roles will be played by Broadway stars Manu Narayan (playing Saajan) and Kuhoo Verma (playing Ila). Narayan’s work includes roles in the original Broadway casts of “Company,” “Gettin’ the Band Back Together,” “My Fair Lady” and “Bombay Dreams.” His recent work includes “The Baker’s Wife” off-Broadway as well as recurring appearances in “Your Friends & Neighbors” alongside Jon Hamm on Apple TV. Watch a clip of his performance in “Company” here.

Manu Narayan plays Saajan in “The Lunchbox” at Berkeley Rep, May 17-June 28. Credit: HanJie Chow

Verma most recently starred in the New York revival of “Heathers: The Musical.”She returns to Berkeley Rep having previously appeared in “Monsoon Wedding”and “Octet,”the lattera Lortel and Drama Desk award-winner. Watch Verma perform the song “I Say No” from “Heathers: The Musical” here.

Together, Narayan and Verma bring their vibrant presence and unmatched, virtuosic singing to this world premiere musical.

Among the Berkeley Rep production’s creative team is Ritesh Batra who wrote the musical’s book and co-lyrics. He also wrote and directed the original “The Lunchbox” — his debut feature film. It was supported by Sundance and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the Grand Rail d’Or and was nominated for the 2015 BAFTAs. Batra has been named one of Variety’s “Ten Directors to Watch.” His previous films include “Our Souls at Night” (Netflix), “The Sense of an Ending” (BBC, FilmNation) and “Photograph” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival in 2019. 

Alongside Batra, the musical’s creative team features Daniel and Patrick Lazour who wrote the music and co-lyrics for the show. The Lazour brothers are musicians and award-nominated music theater writers, arriving at Berkeley Rep following Lincoln Center Theater’s recent production of their original musical “Night Side Songs.” Their original songs can be heard on their Spotify.  The musical’s score features Indian Classical instruments and vocal arrangements alongside Batra and the Lazours’ sincere, introspective lyrics.

“The Lunchbox” musical’s director is none other than Rachel Chavkin, the 2019 Tony Award-winning director of Anaïs Mitchell’s “Hadestown” on Broadway. Chavkin holds Obie, Drama Desk and Tony awards for her directing work. That includes “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”on Broadway, Ars Nova, and American Repertory Theater; “Lempicka”on Broadway, at La Jolla Playhouse and Williamstown Theatre Festival;and “The Royale” at the Lincoln Center Theater. 

Reshma Gajjar also joins the creative team to make her musical theater debut as choreographer — she’s also an actress and interdisciplinary performing artist. She has acted on screen for directors including Spike Jonze, Sam Mendes and Kathryn Bigelow, and is recognized for opening the Oscar-winning “La La Land.” Gajjar has toured globally with Madonna and Ricky Martin, and performed alongside Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX and Adele.

“The Lunchbox” runs from May 17 to June 28 in Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, bringing to the stage all its charm, exuberance and courage. Berkeley Rep is proud to close its 2025/26 season with this must-see world premiere musical. More about the show and tickets here.

Kuhoo Verma plays Ila, whose home-cooking reaches the wrong recipient, in “The Lunchbox” at Berkeley Rep. Credit: HanJie Chow

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