Mona jaisi koyi nahi

How do you propose to anchor 'Extraa Shots'?
I want to be a friendly host for the show. Mandira Bedi did a fantastic job as the anchor for 'Extraa Innings'. I hope I would be able to live up to the challenge. I will make the show more interactive and set out to tell the viewer 'kiske saath kya huwa' but will not hit below the belt. I will laugh when needed and will not take recourse to filmi laughter. Since it is a youth channel, I will predominantly sport western clothes, more so since I can show off as I have lost weight. I will be the host for 'Extraa Shots' once a week, every Saturday for films like Traffic Signal,Kaho Na Pyar Hai, Eklavya, etc.

Tell us something about your show 'Extreme Makeover' for Sony?
There is one more year for my exclusive contract with Sony to expire. It is nice on the part of the channel that they do not insist that I should do this or that. In fact, I have the choice to pick whatever they offer me. Besides 'Extraa Shots', you will see me on Sony TV in yet another weekly reality show called Naya Roop Naya Zindagi, earlier titled 'Extreme Makeover'. It will be a one-hour weekend episode, which will drive home the point that you have just one life and hence it is not a sin if you look pretty and feel good. The show sets out to tell the viewers that if one is ugly, it does not mean that one should remain ugly all through one's life.

Is it a conscious effort on your part to keep away from TV serials?
I have deliberately kept myself away from TV serials for the last one year ever since Sony TV wrapped up Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi. However, I have not sworn off TV serials. If I get an offer to act in a serial, which is as good and difficult like Jassi… was, I would definitely take up the offer. As of now, I would rather host shows and take part in reality shows.

How open are you as far as films are concerned?
I am keeping my fingers crossed. I will take up a movie assignment only if I am confident that it will enable me to leave an impact. The kind of project I would take up depends upon the offers that I get. Though I hate admitting that I have not yet seen the film, I'd have loved to be part of a project like Chak De India. The project with which I was to make a debut in Hindi films with Bobby Pushkarna as the producer did not take off. At that point, I was quite excited about Bobby's project because I had signed a contract but only ended up wasting my time.

How happy are you with the way your career has shaped till date?
I am happy with the way my career has shaped till date, though after Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi, I really do not have a body of work to show off besides Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. Today I am ready for all the thumkas of South Indian films.

In what way has your stint with Jhalak Dikhla Jaa changed you as a person?
Without any doubt, I would give the credit to the show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa for having made me lose my kilograms and look slimmer. I would not hesitate to state that I rediscovered myself as a human being with Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. I am happy I said yes to the offer when Sony TV asked me to be a part of the show because it helped me break my image as Jassi. I feel triumphant because for an actor, especially a TV actor, to break one's set image and be known by one's own name is a very difficult task.

Did you ever dream that you would be in the limelight?
It may sound very strange but then the fact is that I had always imagined that people would run to me wherever I go for my autographs, even when I was in school. I have just started. I feel I have to traverse a long way and achieve a lot more in my life. Jassi was just the tip of the iceberg as an actress.

Did it pain you when your identity as Mona Singh was concealed when you were launched with Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi ?
Today I am what I am only because of Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi. All through the making of Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi, I almost felt like I was a superman with two different identities for myself- one as Jassi and one as Mona Singh. I remember when I had to attend the prestigious RAPA Awards, I had to go on the stage and receive the award as Jasmeet Walia though I felt that Mona Singh deserved the award and not Jasmeet Walia. However, I would like to clarify that it was not painful for me to hide behind my persona for the serial because in that case, it would have shown on the screen.

Were you apprehensive whether Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi will strike a chord with the audience?
Frankly speaking, when I took up the offer to play the bespectacled ugly Jassi, I thought the serial would either flop or hit big-time. Because it was for the first time that the lead protagonist of a serial in a top channel was shown to be ugly. It was her belief in her own self and her family values that endeared Jassi to the viewers, both old as well as young alike.

What do you think was the best thing about Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi?
We set the trend with Jassi and the others followed. After Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi, there was a, spate of serials with similar themes like Yeh Meri Life Hai and Dekho Magar Pyar Se. In fact, I would say that we started the trend of make-over in serials.

People feel that you are quite a laid-back actress!
I am not laid-back as an actress, though I would not mind conceding that I am very choosy. I am very particular about everything that I do in life. If I weren't so extremely choosy, you would have seen me as a bahu in Saas- Bahu serials and went on minting money. After having made my debut with a brilliant show like Jassi Jaisi Koyi Nahi, I did not want to go ahead and spoil the impact.