It’s been 20 years since Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin was released but the series is still fresh in your mind. Tell her that and the actress bursts forth into a dimpled smile. Mona Singh has had the pick of TV shows and was counted as being one of the highest paid TV actresses at one point. She reunited recently with her 3 Idiots co-stars, Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, for Laal Singh Chaddha. Though the film wasn’t a commercial success, it was praised by the critics and later picked up interest after its OTT release. The actress has found herself back in the reckoning, thanks to OTT, and was praised for her work in shows like Kafas, Made in Heaven and Kaala Paani. Excerpts from an interview with the dependable Ms. Singh...
3 Idiots was a dream film to make your Bollywood debut with. What are the thoughts you have today when you look back?
I have never watched that movie alone. I have always had either my friends, my family, or my husband watching it with me. And every time that delivery scene comes up, I start blabbering again. Oh, you know, this happened. That happened. And they say we've heard it 100 times.
That delivery scene in the film is indeed memorable. How many takes did it take to get it right?
I burst into laughter when all these guys—you know, when Madhavan and Aamir were picking me up and walking through that water and I was telling them sorry if I was heavy. These men were also telling me about their experiences. Sharman said, ‘My wife threw me out of the operating room where she was delivering. Aamir said, ‘Oh, my wife bit me’, Raju Sir said his story. I was like Oh my God! It was hilarious.
Kareena Kapoor Khan, Aamir Khan, and you reunited again in Laal Singh Chaddha. How special was it?
Unfortunately, I did not have a single scene with Kareena in Laal Singh Chaddha. But yes, she was there when we were shooting, and we would all talk about those 3 Idiots days. We had a fun time talking and going down memory lane during Laal Singh Chaddha.
Laal Singh Chaddha found massive appreciation when it was released on OTT, despite the box-office debacle.
We as a team did feel happy about the fact that it did well on OTT, but I was sure about one thing – that this movie, in the years to come, will surely get cult status. I was, and I will always be proud of being a part of Laal Singh Chaddha; it will always have a special place in my heart. It is a beautiful story.
Which scene in the film made you the most vulnerable?
I remember that in my last scene, I started to cry. And director Advait Chandan and Aamir were all like, "You do not cry. Let the people see you go." It is difficult not to cry; you know, we are all emotional. It was tough.
Is Aamir Khan an expressive person off camera?
Aamir is very expressive; he loves to talk about all his adventures. We have heard about all his anecdotes from the older films that he has done. All the funny stories and happy stories. He loves to talk.
Your performance in Made in Heaven is one of the core highlights. Tell us about your experience working with Zoya Akhtar.
I love the way Zoya shoots. I love the way she writes. She produces an idea of making something so big as Made in Heaven. This was a show that I was a huge fan of when the first season was released. I was telling my parents and friends that this is what I want to do. These are the kinds of shows I need to be a part of, and in 2021, I got a call from the production house asking me about my availability and interest and they shared the script with me. I could not believe it. I was like, Is this happening right now? And of course, when I read about the character Bulbul Jauhari, I signed up for the show. I loved reading and performing. And then, of course, we had lots of reading and rehearsals with Zoya. But they are the best makers in the industry, I have to say.
What attracted you to the way your character, Bulbul Jauhari, was written?
I just wanted to jump on a call. So, I called Zoya and told her how fabulous it was. There is so much going on with that character in her personal life. The multiple tracks open up slowly after every episode. And then Zoya was telling her, "Mona, the biggest bomb will drop on episode 4." I was like, okay. And Zoya kept telling me that, nobody has ever seen you do this. Let us do something extraordinary.
Like you mentioned, no one has seen you play a character like this before. What was the preparation like?
It was not easy. But when a show is so beautifully written, all you must do is just prepare a little more and be there, be present in the moment. So, I remember. I have never been this sassy on camera. So, my homework was a little more. Zoya was telling me that Mona, I am not worried about your intense scenes at all because I know you will shine. But this is something that I need to work on. Your work, your body language, your sassiness. Let us work. We did a lot of workshops on that.
Who has been the biggest cheerleader for your work?
My sister, Sona. She's all I need, and I don't need any other best friend in my life if she's there; we share this beautiful bond. We are there for each other through thick and thin. We know each other so well and she is my biggest supporter and my biggest cheerleader. She lives in Australia and I remember she was the one telling everyone, "Please watch Made in Heaven. Please watch Laal Singh Chaddha." I was like, stop it. You do not need to do this. People will watch. She's like, "Don't control me. Let me be."
Is work often a topic of discussion at home?
I love talking about my work. It is not that I am stressed about it. If I am stressed about it, I will not bring it home, but if I am excited about my work and how my day was, I will bring it home and share it with my loved ones. Otherwise, what is the point if I do not bring my work home? My husband, Shyam (Gopalan), feels so happy listening about all the things that I did and the way the unit clapped for me and cheered for me after the scene went well. I love to talk about it. My parents are supportive and always want to hear all these stories from me after I come back from a shoot or an outdoor schedule. They want to know what happened and how it went.
Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin made you a household name on television. Would you be a part of it today if it were remade?
I would say yes to it, depending on how the script is and if it is for OTT. Because if it is on TV, I am sure I will not be doing it. I do not have the patience for it anymore. I cannot just play one character for two years. I have been spoiled and rotten because of OTT. You do one out, and you get into another character.
Do you miss television?
I don't, really. I love this fast pace of oddity and also the joy of working with so many directors, the best makers, writers, producers and such good scripts. Because these are the kinds of scripts and shows that we will never get to witness. On a small screen, we won't. In every part of these impactful narratives, I don't do TV just because I miss doing it.
You have been associated with Ektaa Kapoor for the longest time. Your OTT show, Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain, was a huge success.
She knows the pulse of the audience. She knows what the audience likes and does not like. And that is the best thing for any producer or storyteller to know. And she always picks the best actor, whoever she picks, for whatever is the perfect fit.
How has married life been for you?
Good, we have done many, many trips. The good thing about COVID was that we started exploring India. We went to Sikkim, Kerala, and Manali, which I had never been to. Shyam gives me my space. I give him his, and I think eventually, marriage is all about living in this perfect harmony, knowing that you are there for each other and that you are a team as long as you know that you are a team together and not against each other.
How does your current lineup look?
I have five shows lined up for release besides Kaala Paani. I'm very excited about all those shows because it's something I've never done, so I can't divulge much detail.
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