Mouni Roy speaks about her journey on Indian TV.
What kept you busy post the show?I was already hosting the reality show So You Think You Can Dance (India). I was also busy with various television stage shows. I caught up on my reading, and travelled too. I took short trips to Thailand, Kerala and Rajasthan.
The next season of your show will start airing soon. Are you nervous?I am anxious and excited. I am playing a double role for the first time. As for the pressure, I don’t stress about things that aren’t in my control. As an actor, my job is to perform to the best of my ability. Success or the ratings of a show are not in my hands. But yes, people’s expectations can be unnerving.
Do you approach a show with expectations of success?No. On television, there isn’t much scope to do different roles. I try to bring some new shades to my roles, and I try to play them differently. I think I have been able to manage that pretty well. Krishnatulsi in KSBKBT was a girl next door, Meera in Junoon was a fiery Delhi girl, Sati was a mythological character in Devon Ke Dev – Mahadev, and then, of course, I played Shivanya, the snake woman.
What attracted you to acting?
I became an actor by mistake. I am a creative person. I like painting, singing, dancing, etc. I was active in street theatre in college, and I was part of the choreography society in Miranda House (Delhi). I even wrote my dissertation on Habib Tanvir (Urdu playwright) in Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi), where I was pursuing my MA. I didn’t have any plans to act, as I thought I would take up a job behind the camera. But, life had its own plans for me. In fact, every time I plan things, they never happen. I was keen on doing another show when I was offered Mahadev. I felt that the script of the other show was better. But then Mahadev became successful, and I realised I was meant to do this.
