Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 17, 2019)
Small screen actors stepping into the Bollywood arena for brighter career prospects is not a new phenomenon. Some have survived the test of time, while others have faded into oblivion. However, not everyone’s transition has been as smooth as Mouni Roy’s. The actress is best known for playing naagin on TV. After sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar in Gold and John Abraham in RAW, she will now be seen opposite Rajkummar Rao in Made In China. Also on the cards is the Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer Brahmastra and she is reportedly a part of Mogul, too.
When BT met Mouni for a chat, she stressed on the fact that the projects she has featured in so far, have chosen her. “I have given my 100 per cent to every role that I have played. I listen to my directors and follow their instructions to the best of my abilities. To me, the story is paramount and then comes my character. I know after reading the first few pages of a script whether I want to be a part of the project. If you have to force yourself to do something, often, it doesn’t turn out well. I have always been slow but steady, and that’s alright. I believe that everything has its own due time and every delay is due to a reason,” she says.
‘IT’S A GOOD SIGN THAT THE LINES BETWEEN TV AND FILM INDUSTRIES ARE BLURRING’
When we point out that not many TV actors’ transition has been like hers, Mouni asserts that she doesn’t think along those lines and is grateful for the kind of work she has done in both the industries.
She says, “I am glad that TV actors like Mrunal (Thakur) and Radhika (Madan) are doing well in films. It’s a good sign that the lines are blurring, and makers are choosing the actors and not the medium. However, there is still a long way to go. There are many talented actors on TV, who work hard for the love of their craft. Actors have to wait for the right scripts, and also destiny plays a part in getting those opportunities. Of course, one needs a bit of tweaking, and the learning never stops. There are only a few gifted actors like Rajkummar Rao, who don’t have to go through that process. He is unimaginably spontaneous. For the rest of us, we have to constantly learn and unlearn (laughs!). Every scene with him has been a learning process for me.”
‘GREAT ACTORS ENHANCE YOUR PERFORMANCE’
Sharing screen space with powerhouse performers like Boman Irani, Paresh Rawal, Manoj Joshi and Gajraj Rao can be daunting for any actor, but working with them has been an enriching experience for Mouni. “Initially, you are intimidated, but then you realise that they are extremely giving and always put the script and the film before themselves. I have received help on the set starting with my director Mikhil Musale sir and Rajkummar to other co-actors. Great actors enhance your performance. It’s my good fortune that I am getting to work with them so early on in my career. You get to learn so much from the best in the industry,” the actress explains.
‘MADE IN CHINA IS A RELATABLE FILM WITH A STRONG MESSAGE’
Talking about Made In China and her role in it, Mouni tells us it is a rags-to-riches story of a middle-class man — Raghu (played by Rajkummar Rao) — and his wife Rukmini (Mouni). “Becoming a part of Made In China was a no-brainer for me. It’s a relatable film with a strong message. Rukmini has lived in a metro city and was very ambitious at one point. She falls in love with Raghu and shifts to Ahmedabad. She is still ambitious, albeit, differently. Now, she is ambitious for her family and wants Raghu to do well. The film showcases Raghu’s journey from rags to riches and how Rukmini supports him all along. Of course, the narrative is laced with interesting twists and turns,” says Mouni.
While the film chronicles Raghu’s journey and his struggles to become a successful businessman before he strikes gold by getting into sexual-stimulant business; the film is not a sex comedy. Talking about an important message that the film imparts, Mouni shares, “Sex education is extremely important and should be a part of our curriculum. If you have a fever, cough or cold, you go to a doctor, similarly, if you have a sex-related issue, you should be comfortable with consulting a sexologist as well. Both men and women should be educated about it. It’s important for men to be aware of everything to get over any awkwardness while growing up, and to understand the difference between wooing a women and scaring her. If women are educated, it gives us the power of negation. Having said that, this is just a small part of our film, which is fun and entertaining.”
‘MY JOURNEY SO FAR HAS BEEN A CHARMING ROLLER COASTER’
Not one to worry about the business of films or box-office success, Mouni says that she doesn’t understand the number game. She says, “I consider myself lucky that I don’t understand the business of movies too much. I was never worried about the ratings of my TV shows. I love what I do and give my heart and soul to it. Once it’s done, I don’t worry about what’s not in my hands. Being in the present is the most important thing. If you are stuck in your past, you will always be anxious, and if you keep thinking about the future, you will always be scared. There is no other place to be than being in the present.”
Following the mantra ‘the harder you work, the luckier you get’, Mouni believes hard work and destiny go hand-in-hand. Though her life hasn’t really been a typical rags-to-riches tale, like the film, she believes the audience will relate to it. The actress, who comes from a middleclass background, calls her journey in showbiz a “charming roller coaster.”
Mouni is happy that she has worked with actors like Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Rajkummar. “They have their own approach to the roles that they portray. I am not in a position to comment on them, but the one thing that’s common between them is that they are brilliant at comedy, in their own way,” she observes.
While TV is said to be a woman’s medium, the film industry is largely male dominated. Lack of pay parity has been talked about a lot over the past couple of years. Actresses undergo a lot more scrutiny in terms of their fashion sense and looks, too. Many have been accused of going under the knife, and her name has also featured on the list. She has also faced her share of trolling and has been bodyshamed. “About fashion sense, trolling or being body-shamed and the scrutiny, I think either they are ghostwriters, hiding behind their screens and writing rubbish about you or they simply lack compassion. I don’t waste my time thinking about trolls.”
On the personal front, she is single. She says, “I don’t like to talk about my personal life, as it takes the focus away from work. I am single and concentrating on my work currently,” she signs off.
I don’t waste my time thinking about who is trolling me-Mouni Roy
