Mona Singh has been receiving appreciation for her negative character in Vir Das and Kavi Shastri’s Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos. She got talking about the film and more in an interview with us.

Mona Singh on playing a negative character in Happy Patel, “When I first heard about the character, I laughed”

Your killer character Mama in Happy Patel is quite a departure from the sweet characters you normally play. Was it fun being wicked?
Absolutely!I’vealways loved exploring new shades of characters, and Happy Patel gave me somethingI’verarely had the chance to do: a darker, edgier persona. In fact,I’veoften joked thatI’venever really played a villain before, so this was a first that I really enjoyed. The script allowed this mad, quirky energy, and stepping into that world was refreshing and exciting.

What was your reaction when you were first offered the role? Did you feel Mama was too mean to handle?
You know, when I first heard about the character, I laughed! Ididn’timmediately think, “Oh no, this is too mean.” Instead, I thought it was intriguing, something completely fresh and unpredictable. And honestly, that unpredictability is what drew me in. I thrive on challenge, so rather than being scared, I was pumped to play this side of her.

Of course you pulled it off swimmingly — are you dazzled by your own versatility?
Dazzled? Iwouldn’tsay I’m dazzled by myself, but I definitely feel grateful. Versatility to meisn’tabout showing off; it’s about being truthful to whatever world the story demands.I’vebeen lucky to play everything from expressive, joyous roles to more grounded, emotional ones, and now something mad and unpredictable like this. If audiences appreciate that range, it just means I’m choosing well and growing as an actor.

The Ba***ds of Bollywood last year and now you are starting the year with Happy Patel — what other surprises do you have in store?
It’s been an amazing run. The Ba***ds of Bollywood was such a quirky, bold project, and Happy Patel continues that off-beat energy in cinema. This year, I’m also looking forward to many more opportunities where I get to work with a new team in a totally different genre, and later, there are projects in both film and digital that will push me into new territories again. I like to keep surprising myself and, hopefully, the audience too.

What is thisatoot bandhanbetween you and Aamir?
I think it really is a very organic, almost ghar-jaisa bond. Aamir and I have often joked that our relationship has that comfortable mother–son quirkiness to it. From 3 Idiots onwards, there’s been this ease, no awkwardness, no pretence. We can be silly, we can be serious, we can have long conversations or sit quietly, and it all feels very natural. He has said this before, and I completely agree. When that comfort exists, it shows on screen. There’s trust, warmth, and a certain lived-in quality that you can’t manufacture. He also gives his co-actors a lot of space to be themselves, and I think that’s why our collaborations feel effortless. It’s less about “acting together” and more about being present together, which is rare and precious.

Also Read: Mona Singh compares Happy Patel to the spirit of Delhi Belly: “Dark, quirky, and off-beat”