Mahima Makwana is all set to entertain her fans with her upcoming Telugu film, Mosagallu. The actress, who is popular for her characters in shows like Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Rishton Ka Chakravyuh, Mariam Khan - Reporting Live, and Shubharambh, debuted in Telugu films in the 2017 with Venkatapuram. And now, she is back with another film in the language.
We spoke to her about the upcoming project and more. Excerpts from the interview:
How has been your shooting experience with the stellar cast? Whom were you most excited to work with while signing the film?
The experience of shooting with one & all for Mosagullu was simply bonhomous & some of the artists are now my companions for life. Every artist thrives to work with a good director & working with someone as experienced as Jeffrey Gee Chin is an honour in itself. I feel blessed to be a part of this film.
What difficulties did you face while playing this character?
I think moulding into the stature of a character that is completely opposite to you as a person is always a challenge but definitely a necessary one for one’s growth as an artist. The acculturation to phonetics & lifestyle was tough for me initially but I am glad that the curve flattened. I have gained a lot of wisdom from this project & I am grateful about it.
Are you also planning to make a Bollywood debut soon?
Well, this industry works on the momentum of minutes with uncertainty & change being the grammar in this profession. The only constant is that I am an artist & would keep entertaining as one, irrespective of the medium.
What sort of work are you looking at?
I am looking forward to performing in the theatre & enriching my game of expressions. I would also like to pick up characters that are stratified & push my capacity as an artist. I believe longevity is secondary, it’s the essence that matters.
Television consumes a lot of time for the actors. How do you manage to explore the other mediums?
I think disciplining your own schedule makes you capable enough to establish balance & that inturn makes things easy-breezy to some extent when juggling between two mediums. I am a happy-go-lucky person, so I accept things the way they come & deal with them accordingly when the situation rises.
In Spite of doing so many shows on TV, why have you not ventured into the non fiction space? Is this your conscious decision?
I believe non-fiction is a milestone in itself. I personally respect the artists who have worked in this space cause it beholds a lot of responsibility & focus. It’s like walking on thin ice where one minor glitch can turn leaves in an unpredictable way & the actual person can be misunderstood. If given a choice, I would like to work on one definitely!
You started at a very young age and had a successful career. What do you feel got left behind while you got busy with work at such a young age?
Every individual follows a unique path in life, just like the DNA, every life and experience is unique too. While enjoying a career in one of the most sought after professions in the country, there were definitely some precious experiences I missed like being a regular student in school, going out for vacations, childhood leisure etc. But as they say, everything happens for a reason, and all these sacrifices hid a bigger reason behind them.
What are the pros and cons of being a celebrity according to you?
I think being a celebrity is a boon & bane in itself. The small gestures of love instills me with radiance & inspiration to work better. On the other hand, being a celebrity means being on a radar 24*7 wherein you deliberate every single thing wisely before putting it across. Perceptions hold an important space in our industry.
Do you feel 'celebrity' tags come easy due to over exposure on social media for some people, in today's time?
As far as my perspective is concerned, tagging a human as a celebrity on count of media exposure isn’t justified for I feel that it takes an entourage of admirers , media friends & representatives to build a public figure. We do our work as an artist by portraying a character but the flying colours are attained only when acceptance for it evokes in the audience.
As an actor one change you would like to bring in the industry?
Honestly it would be early for me to suggest a change in the industry even when I have grey hair...haha! Evolution occurs here each day & hence it’s like waking up as a clean slate every morning. However, I would like to change my own mindset cause someone had once told me that change happens when you start with yourself.
Image source: Instagram/mahima_makwana