Deepika Singh on redefining women’s strength in Mangal Lakshmi

Indian television has long celebrated women who hold families together and now, it’s time to welcome a big change. As COLORS’ Mangal Lakshmi proudly completes 700 episodes, the family drama marks the milestone with its most daring transformation yet. The nation’s beloved homemaker-turned-entrepreneur, Mangal, portrayed by Deepika Singh, steps beyond the familiar confines of home to answer a far greater calling - rising as Desh Ki Beti and symbolising the evolving face of the Indian woman on television. Over the years, viewers have watched Mangal embody every role life placed before her - from devoted wife and resilient daughter-in-law to nurturing mother, responsible sister, and self-made entrepreneur. Now, as the story enters a defining new chapter, her journey expands beyond family bonds to serve the nation itself.

What humbles me most is that audiences have grown with Mangal Lakshmi, witnessing her journey from being a homemaker, to an entrepreneur and to now Desh Ki Beti

- Deepika Singh

From homemaker to ‘Desh Ki Beti’: A powerful transformation at 700 episodes

In the current storyline, Mangal’s life takes a turn when Adit takes over her long-built enterprise, Pehla Swaad, forcing her to start anew by launching her own wedding-planning venture. Fate intervenes when she bravely helps nab a criminal and hands him over to the police. Her fearlessness and integrity catch the attention of Inspector Jayaraj, who presents her with a covert mission that alters the course of her life. Having spent years holding her parivaar together, Mangal is now entrusted with a responsibility far larger—safeguarding the nation, the biggest parivaar of all. Accepting the mission as a matter of duty, she undergoes rigorous self-defence and martial arts training, ushering in an emotionally charged, action-driven era.

A new era of storytelling that redefines strength and empowerment

Opening up about this new phase, Deepika Singh shared, “What humbles me most is that audiences have grown with Mangal Lakshmi, witnessing her journey from being a homemaker, to an entrepreneur and to now Desh Ki Beti. Reaching the 700th episode is a special milestone that speaks to the difference this show has made to the lives of countless Indian households. This new era of her serving the nation is an extension of everything she has always stood for. For years, we have shown women as the glue that holds families together. Now, we are also saying that the same woman has the right and the courage to stand up against injustice beyond the four walls of her home.”

She further added, “This arc allows us to shine a light on social evils that often go unnoticed, and on the everyday bravery it takes to confront them. When she learns self-defence and martial arts, it speaks to a larger truth: empowerment is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. As a woman and as an actor, I believe television has a responsibility to evolve the way it portrays women - not just as nurturers, but as decision-makers, protectors, and agents of change. It's about normalising strength and telling women that their safety, agency, and voice matter. If Mangal’s journey encourages women to feel more aware, more fearless, or more seen, then this turn has served its purpose. And for the entire Mangal Lakshmi team, this is only the beginning of a far more meaningful conversation.”