The Rising Princess – Mouni Roy

From KyunkiSaasBhiKabhiBahuThi, Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev to Naagin, actor Mouni Roy has been acted in some of the most-watched shows on Indian television of all time. And after spending more than a decade in the television industry, it’s now her time to shine on the big screen. With her latest film, Romeo Akbar Walter with John Abraham now in theatres, Roy takes a breather and discusses her love for acting, and if she would come back to television.

Mouni Roy, Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW) has just released, how are you feeling?
I am forever nervous, but it’s a special film. I feel anybody who is sentimental about the country is going to love the film. It’s been made with a lot of thoughts; Robbie (Grewal, director) sir had researched for about five years before we started shooting.

Both Gold (2018) and RAW are about loving the country…
It’s a coincidence. Both films will evoke patriotism. But having said that, they are two completely different films, there is no similarity in my roles. The moment I read the first draft, I knew I wanted to be a part of RAW, and Robbie sir felt that I could play the part well.

How do you choose a film?
Script (smiles). It’s always the story and the part that I have to play. You need to read the story and feel that you want to be a part of it. Either you relate to the character, it shakes you from within, or you feel that it’s a character that will challenge you and lead you to work harder.

 Mouni Roy, How did television prepare you for films
Everything about television, be it the long shoot schedules or the discipline expected out of you, is what prepares you not just for films but for life. It makes you a disciplined person. When you have broadcast deadlines to meet, you realise how important your work is, and no matter what, come fever, cold or a headache, if you don’t shoot, the show won’t go on air, and that’s what makes you responsible.

Is there a room for change to make the lives of people working in television easier?
It has changed a lot since I started; we don’t shoot non-stop for many days anymore. Things are slowly changing, but with the kind of pressure and broadcast deadlines that you have, it is actually very difficult.

Were you prepared for it?
No, I wanted to be an IAS officer. My father was in West Bengal civil services. I completed English Honours from Miranda House, and MA in Mass Communication from JamiaMiliaIslamia in Delhi. I still remember the day it all started though, I was walking outside my college and someone from Balaji Telefilms spotted me and tapped my shoulder and I got an audition for Kyunki. It was a Sunday and I was wearing a T-shirt that read ‘The lifeline of a Mirandian is her attitude’ (laughs). I thought I was coming to Mumbai for a summer job, but I never left. Once we started shooting, I even tried to leave a few times. But I realised that very few people are fortunate to get such an opportunity, and like I love painting, dancing or any other art form, I love acting. Television taught me to be both, a director’s and a producer’s actor.

 Mouni Roy, You joined Bollywood at a later stage in your career, were there times of self-doubt when films didn’t happen for a decade?
I am a very proud TV actor as it has given me everything. I am not the kind of a person to think about the negatives. I had my priorities set; I gave my 100 per cent to my present and my work. I believe in being in now, thinking about the future just makes me restless. It’s not that I didn’t think about it, when I would see a good performance and a great story, I would always think that it would have been nice to be a part of that story. But I also knew that there is no point in imagining hypothetical situations. I was offered films earlier too, but I liked my positioning on TV. And it didn’t make sense for me to do one film and get back to TV. When I got Gold, I couldn’t believe it initially. Then Brahmastra (starring Alia Bhatt and RanbirKapoor) happened, and so did Made in China (RajkummarRao), and I felt this is my window and I should be thankful and take it up.

Mouni Roy, So do you plan to get back to television?
Not right now, as I intend to finish the work that I have. But if something interesting comes up, no matter what the medium is, may be a good web series too, I would love to do it. TV is like home to me.

Your film with NawazuddinSiddiqui was also announced recently. Any comment.
Bole Chudiya is an outright love story and has a lot of sub plots. It’s a full-fledged Hindi film. I have only met him (Siddiqui) twice, and am looking forward to work with him.

You are often criticised and trolled on social media, how do you handle it?
I don’t feel anything; they are ghosts sitting behind a screen who write rubbish. It’s sad when you hate people and write such nasty things. But you can’t do anything about it, they add or subtract nothing in my life. I don’t think about all that, there’s so much more to do in life.

A message for TMM’s readers.
Pick up the magazine every month, be happy, have a big heart, do as much as you can for people — nobody has ever become poor by giving, so give as much as you can.

Rapid fire
A word that describes you: I’ll pick three — lost in translation
Courage for you is: Being yourself, no matter what
Acting for you is: An extension of different faces that we all have within us
Beauty mantras to live by: Drink a lot of water, use sunscreen, and don’t have any make up on your face before you go off to bed
Television or you is: Home
Films for you are: New-found love
How do you unwind: Sleep as much, whenever I can.
The last thing you read: Latitudes of Longing by ShubhangiSwarup
Fitness mantra: Following a balanced diet, yoga and flexibility training
Fashion advice for fans: Don’t follow trends blindly, know your body and wear what suits you best
What do you feel the most beautiful in: A sari
Favourite co-star: I love all of them, I have learned something from each of them
A classic film you that you would liked to be a part of: Guide and Shakespeare in Love.

Credits

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