Bollywood actress Mona Singh, who has been in the film industry for the past 22 years, touched upon the topic of getting typecast.
The actress, who started her career with an unconventional show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin in 2003, has done many versatile roles over the period. In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Mona Singh revealed that she had to say no to many offers that came her way after the super success of Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor starrer 3 Idiots in 2009.
And now Mona stands as one of the few Indian actresses who have successfully shifted from TV to films and OTT and also refusing to let herself be boxed into any single kind of role.
“After 3 Idiots, I did get the same kind of offers, a sister’s role and you're doing nothing else. So I have said no to many such roles. And I think because of saying no to those kinds of roles I didn't want to do, I got these opportunities. I waited it out. I was 100% sure that kabhi na kabhi toh ye hoga, the things that I want to do. I'm very happy, I'm still around and now doing OTT and movies after 22 years in the industry, she said with a broad smile on her face.
Mona Singh said that the decision to say no wasn’t easy, but it was necessary at that time.
“I've never had three releases in a year. Never,” she says with gratitude. “I'm very, very thankful to the makers, to the casting directors for giving me these opportunities where no role is the same, no character is the same. It's interesting. And that's what I crave for, that's what every actor craves for, and I'm living that right now. Most times, you know, an actor gets typecast, especially after a role like Jassi, you get type one," she adds.
She has also delivered two back to back hit shows in 2025 - starting with Mistry to now The Bads Of Bollywood, which was directed by Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan. And Thode Door Thode Paas on Zee5 is her third in a row.
From playing layered characters in Made in Heaven 2 and Kafas to her recent stint in Thode Door Thode Paas, Mona continues to pick projects that are both thought-provoking and emotionally grounded.
We also asked her about her experience of working with SRK's son and debutante director Aryan Khan and to this she says: "I still feel I'm in my 20s and I'm learning every single day. There's so much to learn. And I think we become better human beings and better actors eventually with time and experience and to be directed by Aryan Khan in The Bads of Bollywood was a lot of fun. He's the youngest director I have worked with, enthusiastic, so passionate about his work. And you know, first is always very special. So, it was his first, and he wanted to make sure that everything just lands into place and goes by with what he has written and do it with full conviction. I had a lot of fun. There was a whole different vibe on the set, a different energy on the set, which I have not experienced. So it was the first for me too.”
From being India’s most beloved Jassi in hit TV show 'Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin' to making a seamless
transition to films with '3 Idiots', Mona Singh has come a long way.
Over the years, Mona has built a powerful body of work across mediums from shows like Kya Hua Tera Vaada, Kafas, and Made in Heaven 2 to films such as Laal Singh Chaddha and Uttaran.
Mona Singh is currently seen with Pankaj Kapur and Kunaal Roy Kapur in Zee5's Thode Door Thode Paas.
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