Versatile actress Mona Singh, who is riding high on the success of her horror comedy Munjya, spoke to MoneyControl about her success management and how she chooses her roles.
In her most candid chat, Mona revealed that her money is never the only criteria; she looks at the role and what it has to offer her.
While talking about the ups and downs in her professional life, Mona said she didn't have a single release in 2021, but it was Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' that opened doors for her in the future. She revealed that Munjya director Aditya Sarpotdar approached her for the role of Pammi after watching her diverse performance in Laal Singh Chaddha.
She credits Laal Singh Chaddha, which did not do well at the box office, with being a career-defining role.
"There was a time in my career where I was not sure about what to do next. Life is full of surprises; there are ups and downs. Till the time you don't hit rock bottom, you don't enjoy the highs. I have seen both. I am absolutely okay with it. I didn't have any releases in 2021; I was waiting for something good to happen. In the year 2022, when 'Laal Singh Chaddha' was released, people saw me in a different light and a gamut of portrayals. The life span of the mother, which was the highlight of the film, people took notice of, and whatever work I did in 2023 was because of Laal Singh. Our director, Aditya Sarpotdar, reached out to me after watching Laal Singh. He told me that I loved you in that, and a lot of other makers also reached out to me," she told us.
She said the roles that she is being offered now are all thanks to her role of Bulbul Johri in 'Made in Heaven' and 'KalaPaani'.
"Now people are reaching out to me after watching Made in Heaven, Kala Paani. and now Munjya will also open doors further. So I am ready to explore and experiment. I cannot wait for people to witness the stories that are yet to come," she added.
On being compared to Tabu, Mona said it is the biggest compliment she has received and aspires to work with the actress one day.
"It is one of the best compliments; I also read it somewhere: ki ya toh Tabu ko lelo ya toh Mona ko le lo moie mein credibility aa jati hai. It is the best comparison, you see. As her biggest fan, I have watched all her work, and I love her craft. She has been so inspiring, and she also gets into any kind of role. You give her anything to do, and she shines. Unke saath jab comparison ho raha, then it is the biggest compliment for me. So I hope I get to work with her in the near future," she added.
Here are some of the excerpts from the interview:
What attracted you to say yes to Munjya?
Mona: The story and the fact that the movie is doing so well actually reinforce the fact that content is king. It really is. What a beautiful folklore story to tell. A story that travels from Konkan is now traveling world-wide, across borders. This is unprecedented love, and I feel that as an actor, my criteria to choose a script or to be part of a film are very simple: it has to resonate with me, it has to surprise me, and it has to let me do things that I have never done before. These were the main tick boxes I had to tick with every role that I played. And the fact that Maddock was creating a CGI character for the first time in India, I thought, Yeh toh bachche zaroor dekhne jayenge.
Were you in second thoughts before signing Munjya and making comparisons with Stree?
Mona: Not at all, not once I thought about it, ki ye Stree wapas toh nahi la denge, but I was definitely sure of the fact that they have aced the universe of horror comedy. For them to produce another horror comedy, it gives an actor the freedom to explore and try something new. I was very happy that a movie, Munjya, is being made, and there is a CGI character. Let's explore. Let's try something new.
What are your future projects?
Mona: I have a great line-up of shows this year; there will be some OTT releases that I will have, some Bollywood films that will be releasing this year or probably next year, and some post-production work is on. But I feel that, as an actor, this is the most satisfying phase of my life. It really is, because I am doing such different roles. It is a beautiful phase.
Mona - The beech ka phase is a scary phase because you yourself don't know what is to be done. Aapko mother ka role karna hai ya aapko nahi karna hai, are you too old for it or are you too young? I think in my 40s, I have become a little uninhibited. Very much more liberated to try new things. Nahi chala toh nahi chala; if it fails, fair enough. I am okay, and I am not scared of that. Aik jo fearlessness aa jata hain na that starts in the 40s, and I am experiencing that.
How do you choose projects? Are people able to detach you from Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi?
Mona: Of course, people are doing it. Social media is the biggest validation. I keep getting messages from people saying that people say, OMG, what a journey from Jassi to Bulbul Johri. And now people are saying from 3 Idiots to Munjya. So, everybody has been witnessing the change, the journey, and the fact that people are still loving me and accepting me in different roles is a very big validation for an actor for me to stick around even after 20 years. To get the love and appreciation that I am getting is beautiful. It is magical.
Are you stuck in any genre? Do you have any preferences?
Mona: You see, I have not stuck to one type of role, despite the fact that I am still here. People are calling me not only an actor but a versatile actor. It is a great compliment for anyone. My only thing is that I don't want to be typecast in one category. I want to play a mom; I want to play a good cop; a bad cop; a killer; I want to play everything. My list is increasing, and my list of working with directors is increasing. I am becoming more and more ambitious by the day.
What is one change that you are witnessing after the success of Munjya?
Mona: Mujhe bada achcha lag raha hai. Pehle teenagers and bade log bolte, they are your fans, but ab bachche aa rahe hai. I am feeling very good and happy right now. Earlier, teenagers and the elderly were my fans; now kids are also telling me that they like my work. Munjya has changed the game. When kids love it, it means you have arrived. When I was doing Jassi, even at that time, kids and older people used to love me. And it is the same thing happening now. Jab bache mujhe dekh kar bol rahe hai na Pammi, Madar Nandan, all that is happening to me. It is a great feeling. I am getting my memes, and I am watching them.
Mona Singh has been in the industry since 2003. She did her first TV show, 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi' from 2003–2006. She won many awards for her portrayal of a simple girl.
She then appeared in the first season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, then did a few shows like Kya Huaa Tera Vaada, Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do, Kavach, and Kaali Shaktiyon Se.
She then made her Bollywood debut with Aamir Khan's Kareena Kapoor starrer '3 Idiots' in 2009, and since then there has been no looking back.
Mona has now worked in many hit web shows, including 'Made in Heaven 2', 'Kaala Paani', and Yehi Meri Family, to name a few.
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