Actress Mouni Roy scores a gold with ”˜Gold’

By Neeru Saluja

Actress Mouni Roy who ruled the small screen is now all set to make her Bollywood debut with the film ”˜Gold’ opposite Akshay Kumar.

The ”˜Balaji’ girl who became a household name with serials like ”˜Kyunki Saas Bhi Khabi Bahu Thi, Devon ka Dev..Mahadev and Naagin, is now keen to rule hearts in the tinsel town as she has also bagged three other big projects ”“ Brahmastra with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan, RAW with John Abraham and Made in China with Rajkummar Rao.

As she gears up for the release of her debut film ”˜Gold’ slated for release on 15 August by Zee Studios, will the bold and captivating actress strike gold with this film?

Directed by Reema Kagti,”˜Gold’ is a historical sports drama inspired by India’s first Olympic gold medal. The film traces the “golden era” of Indian hockey through the journey of Tapan Das, a young assistant manager in 1936, who dreams of playing for an independent nation.

Mouni, congratulations on your Bollywood debut with the period-sports film ”˜Gold’. We would love to hear about your role in the film.

Thanks, I’m feeling ecstatic and am eagerly looking forward to the release of the film. I play the role of a Bengali housewife. She is slightly overbearing and hot headed as her husband (played by Akshay Kumar) is all over the place. He is an alcoholic and goes drinking and does not come home at night. Though he manages his team, she manages him. Saying this, she is in love with her husband and supports him in whatever he does.

Being a newcomer, how was the experience working opposite a seasoned actor like Akshay Kumar?

It was great working with Akshay as a co-star. Working with Reema madam was also a dream come true as she is a prolific writer and a filmmaker. It was a win-win situation and couldn’t have got better than that. When you wake up in the morning and you want to go to work, you go with a positive energy. And this energy will be reflected in this film.

You are also a famous television actress with fans not only in India but all over the world. Will you miss television as you make your foray into Bollywood?

I am a very proud television actress. I’m thankful to television as it has given me everything. I have enjoyed that phase of life but right now I have taken a bit of a break. I’m equally excited about working on my film projects and to finish shooting for my upcoming films.

You have proved your versatility as a television actress with all kind of roles ”“ be it the bahurani, Naagin or your sizzling dance performances in ”˜Jhalak dhikhla jaa. What’s your mantra of not being stereotyped?

I’m a very straightforward person and I have never worried about being stereotyped. As an actor your job is to be versatile and that’s why I have played the role of a daughter-in-law, a goddess, a snakewoman and have danced on a reality show. I am here to work whether it be acting or dancing. If you are ready to experiment and work hard, then there is no shortcut. This is my mantra that I live by.

Was entering films via television always your career plan?

Not at all! I’m not a decisive person. My career plan was to become an IAS Officer. I passed my English Honours in first class from Miranda House and was then doing my post-graduation in Mass Communications from Jamia Milia. We all have our own destiny and I guess my destiny was to enter television and films.

Coming back to your upcoming film ”˜Gold’, what message would this film bring on India’s 72nd Independence Day?

It’s an extremely relevant story as it’s about the first Olympic gold medal that India won after independence in a time where the political social structure of the country was all over the place. In such times, a man like Tapan Das brought a team together and we went to the British soil, the country who colonised us and we beat them in their own game. It’s a moment of pride for all us Indians.

 

 

 

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