Monika Chowdhury: The light at the end of the dark tunnel

- There was some element that kept me attached to Mumbai. Many times I have given five-five, six-six auditions in a single day.

- Even so, I was not selected for any role. I was told that I am not a good actress, I am not beautiful etc.

After seeing the role of 'Ella Bajpai' played by Monica Chowdhury in the web series 'Salt City' which was released some time ago, she is being appreciated from all over. She has talented actors like Divyandu Sharma, Gauahar Khan, Piyush Mishra along with her in this series. However, Monica's role, her performance is not good.

However, this should also happen. The reason for this is that Monica gained 20 kg weight for this series. No actress can afford to be obese. But given the character's demands, he took such a risk and the article felt the same. He says that throughout the series, my character was ashamed of being fat, feeling inferior. Naturally, I had to gain weight for that. Of course, gaining so much weight was not easy either. Earlier I had a curvaceous build, so gaining weight was equally challenging. However, I was able to understand my character well only after confirmation. I could understand better after the experience what a young woman who is soaked in fat feels. Maybe because of this I was able to play my role perfectly.

The actress is extremely happy with the success of 'Salt City'. He says that the way my character has been appreciated by the audience, I feel that everything I have done has been written.

Monika has so far acted in successful shows like 'Apaharan', 'Rudrakal'. However, it would be a mistake to assume that his acting journey would have been an easy one. He says, "I had a hard time." First of all, just like every person coming to Mumbai has to pay all their own expenses, I also had to pay all my expenses including accommodation, food and drink by myself. I faced a lot of financial difficulties. Sometimes I had to go to bed hungry. In such a situation, thoughts of leaving everything and going back came to me. But there was something that kept me attached to Mumbai. He further says that many times I have given five five six six auditions in a single day. However, I was not selected for any role. I was told that I am not a good actress, I am not beautiful etc. At times like this I used to like it a lot. Some times I felt myself as if what he said was true. But slowly I got used to such things. I was sure that such challenges will never end. So you have to get used to comments being made about you, be thick-skinned enough to turn a blind eye to them.

Now that Monica is getting work, she is very happy, but not satisfied. He says that according to him, getting big budget films is not success. I want to go beyond OTT and work in Bollywood and if possible Hollywood too. I want to grow as an actress so that the next generation remembers me as a talented actress. I wish I had not worked on any platform.