Like water for chocolate...

MONA SINGH TALKS TO SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY ABOUT HER LIFE AND CAREER CHOICES

As I walk into this quaint, sunlit cafe in Bandra, I find myself scanning the room, searching for Mona Singh. The cafe is full and the chatter of a hundred conversations fills the air. And then that loud Punjabi laughter reaches my ears. I turn and there she is talking to her team member. If you didn't know her, you'd mistake her for a regular woman having a good time with her friend.

There are no trappings of stardom, no air, and no attempt to be the centre of attraction. I walk upto her and she flashes a smile. I am transported back to the Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin days. Right away, she tells me that she never had starry air about her.

Says she, "It's been 20 years now. I still remember when Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin was released. My father asked me to have my head over my shoulders and be grounded, despite success and money coming in. I am more adaptable to situations, also because I come from an army background. I don't take anything too seriously.

Success or failure, nothing is permanent. I have been persistent and I think that is the reason I'm still around." Mona's latest hit, Munjya, has captivated audiences and surpassed the 150 crore mark at the box office, proving that content truly is king. She shakes her head and says one really doesn't know what will work and what won't. She comments that thanks to OTT, the viewing habits of the masses have changed. The audience feels that the films come on the OTT platforms in some time and hence don't want to pay the price of the ticket for every release.

So Munjya crossing 100 crores in such a scenario is a big thing for her.

"A small budget film like Munjya crossing 100 crore is a whole new revelation. It has become a case study. I feel that it reinforces the fact that content is king and it always will be. Producers and directors should think about making a family entertainer, and not just looking at the hit formula, like going to Spain to shoot a song. It's not about that anymore.