I want to do a hardcore love story: M Monal Gajjar

Monal Gajjar, who was appreciated for her portrayal of Roshan in the period film Kasoombo, feels “grateful to have done different kinds of roles.” She says, “I feel blessed to have played characters that are very different from each other. However, I have never done a hardcore love story yet; I wonder why (laughs). I want to do such a movie now.”

The Shubh Yatra actress believes in doing movies that stay with her.She says, “I choose scripts that I feel belonged to. Somehow, I have never got the quintessential roles that actresses do, and I take that as a blessing too. The characters that I am offered usually resemble my real-life personality or are the complete opposite. I consciously choose scripts that I can relate to.”
She adds, “While people know me as a bubbly girl who is always laughing, I am very sensitive as an actor. For instance, playing Roshan in Kasoombo wasn’t tough, but it took me a long time to get out of my character. Even today, when I think about the scene where people sacrificed their lives, I get goosebumps.”

Monal, who did Satish Kaushik’s directorial Kaagazand has also done Telugu films, shares, “I have never limited myself to any medium or language. I have worked in Telugu, Malayalam, and Marathi films, and they have added to my growth as an actor. I believe every project, co-actor and maker teaches you something, as acting is a continuous learning process. So, I am open to working in any medium or language as long as I am happy with my role.”
She adds, “I love styling myself for special days like premieres or appearances. But personally, I don’t feel styling is the need of the hour for me. I think having a stylist for every occasion is more like a luxury, where you must be alert all the time about what to wear and how to carry that look.”

While Monal is happy with D-Town’s progress, she feels the industry can do more. She says, “I am proud of the way our industry has grown in the last couple of years. The content and genres being explored show the capabilities of our makers. However, most films are still made from a male character’s perspective. I would like to see more films being made from the female perspective, where the story is about what the female character does and what she wants. I don’t feel pressurised by the size of the cast. I create my own space whenever the camera starts to roll. My entire focus is on how to bring my character to life and portray it according to the director’s vision.”