New Delhi: Actor Mona Singh is enjoying one of the most fulfilling phases of her career in 2026, with multiple releases across film and streaming platforms reinforcing her position as one of the industry’s most versatile performers. From theatrical releases like Happy Patel: Khatarnaak Jasoos and Border 2 earlier this year to her upcoming Netflix series Kohrra 2, Singh says the past few years have marked a turning point in how the industry perceives and casts her.

A defining shift after Laal Singh Chaddha

In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Mona Singh reflected on how playing Aamir Khan’s mother in Laal Singh Chaddha altered her professional trajectory. According to the actor, the role helped filmmakers and audiences see her beyond familiar archetypes.

“Laal Singh Chaddha managed to change a lot of things for me. People saw me in a different light, and then came Kaala Paani and then came Made in Heaven 2. It further just increased the flow of good work coming my way as an actor, and I’m loving this phase,” Singh said.

She described the current period as one she had long worked towards, adding that years of consistent effort are now bearing fruit. “I’m just basking in the glory. These are the kind of things I always wanted to do. I’ve done so much work in the past two years that now everything is releasing. It’s a good phase in my life,” she noted.

Refusing to be boxed into one image

Singh also emphasised that her recent success is not just about her own willingness to experiment, but also about the faith casting directors and producers have shown in her abilities. She credited them for offering her roles that are dramatically different from one another.

“In Happy Patel: Khatarnaak Jasoos, I’m playing a don; in Border 2, I’m Sunny Deol’s wife; and now in Kohrra 2, I’m a serious cop. Being in different worlds and playing different characters is an actor’s dream, and I’m getting to do that. I’m very grateful,” she said.

This diversity of roles has allowed Singh to break away from typecasting, something many actors struggle with after achieving early fame on television.

Taking on a demanding role in Kohrra 2

In the second season of Sudip Sharma’s critically acclaimed Netflix series Kohrra, Mona Singh plays a police officer investigating a woman’s murder while grappling with personal grief. The role is emotionally complex and far removed from the lighter or familial parts she was often associated with earlier in her career.

Speaking to PTI, Singh said she has always been open to taking risks and believes that the present moment is one to celebrate those choices. The actor added that challenging roles excite her far more than concerns about screen image or age.

Calling out ageism in the film industry

One of the strongest statements Singh has made recently is about ageism, particularly the double standards faced by women in the entertainment industry. She has openly criticised the notion that women come with an “expiry date” on screen, while men continue to play romantic leads well into their sixties.

“I have never cared about my on-screen age. I really haven’t because I’m very confident, and I know who I am. There’s nothing to prove,” Singh said. “People often ask me, ‘Why are you so old on screen?’ I say it doesn’t matter. It’s the character that I’m playing, and that excites me.”

She described the industry’s attitude as deeply unfair. “You see, it’s only in this industry that women come with an expiry date. It is so sad. Whereas men in their 60s can still play romantic leads, women can’t. I didn’t want to be that person who worried about it,” she added.

From television icon to acclaimed character actor

Mona Singh first became a household name with her television debut Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi in 2003, where she played the bespectacled, middle-class protagonist at just 22 or 23 years of age. The role made her an instant star and remains one of Indian television’s most iconic characters.

She transitioned to films with notable roles, including Kareena Kapoor’s elder sister in the 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots, which also starred Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi. Over the years, Singh steadily built a body of work that spans television, cinema and streaming platforms.

A career phase defined by confidence

Today, Singh’s recent performances in shows like Kaala Paani, The Ba**ds of Bollywood* and Made in Heaven 2, along with films such as Munjya, Happy Patel and Border 2, have reinforced her reputation as a dependable and fearless actor.

For Mona Singh, the current phase is less about reinvention and more about recognition. By embracing roles across genres and refusing to be constrained by age or image, she has carved out a space that allows her to thrive on her own terms.

Conclusion

As Kohrra 2 gears up for release, Mona Singh’s journey stands as a reminder that longevity in the entertainment industry often comes from adaptability and self-belief. In an industry still grappling with gendered ageism, her career resurgence highlights the power of strong writing, brave casting choices and an actor willing to take risks—regardless of labels.