Exclusive: Mona Vasu on playing Shaleen Malhotra’s mother in Vanshaj, says ‘It's a very fun mother-son relationship’

Mona Vasu, who has done shows like Milee, Kullfi Kumar Bajewalla, is all set to enter the TV show Vanshaj. She will play the role of Shalini Talwar and mother to Shaleen Malhotra’s character in the show. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, Mona spoke about her role, playing the role of mother, the twists in the upcoming episodes and more.
What attracted you to the role of Shaleen Malhotra's mother in Vanshaj, and how did you prepare for this character?
So basically, it seems like a very important character. It's the character of the matriarch of the family, Shalini Talwar. She is vulnerable yet very, very strong. She has a backstory, you know, which makes the character very, very layered and interesting. And she has the capability to manipulate the whole family, the Talwar household. And she has courts to settle with the Mahajans. So I'm also as excited as everyone else as to how the story shapes up in the future.

How would you describe the relationship between your character and Shaleen’s in the series?
Talking about my relationship with Shaleen in the series, basically it's a very fun relationship. He's very fond of his mother. In fact, it's a relationship where, you know, they go out on a date every week. It's characterized by a lot of pampering and fondness. So looking forward to discovering more shades as we go along.
What unique qualities do you bring to this role, and how do they enhance the storyline of Vanshaj?
Well, that is for everyone to discover because we haven't started shooting yet. The audition that I sent was quite interesting. The scene that they had sent me, it was quite interesting and had a lot to perform. There is a lot of scope. So let's see how it goes. I'm also yet to discover how unique I can make this character and how I can make it different from the other characters that I have played so far. The storyline, of course, is very, very interesting. So it's going to add the screenplays that are being sent just going through. So they sound interesting and let's see where it goes and how much I can add to the role.

Can you share any memorable experiences or challenges from the set while filming your entry scenes?
So we've actually shared just one day together. We were together, all of us, the cast, the new cast. And also we met some of the Mahajan family members, Puneet ji and Sudesh ji and Gurudev. I met Gurdeep like many, many years back and it was nice to see that she's going to be there. As you know, it's going to be an outdoor shoot and we're not going to be in Bombay. So it makes it even more special. You know, the people around you, it makes a lot of difference when you're shooting on a daily basis. I was particularly very touched by both Gurdeep and Puneet ji actually but Puneet ji, Puneet Issar who's playing the, you know, Mahajan family's head. He was very sweet and he assured us that, you know, don't worry at all. ‘Just come and we are all there to support you. You're going to come on an outdoor and it's going to be a big change, but just don't worry at all.’ So that assurance meant a big deal to me. And that, of course, is a very sweet memory. So, yeah, I'm very excited to share screen space with all of these wonderful actors.

How do you think your character will influence the overall narrative of Vanshaj?
Well, I do hope that it has quite a huge influence and it does make the story better and more interesting and, you know, more interesting for the audience and more gripping. So let's see how it shapes up. I'm looking forward to it as I've been promised. This is a character that has a lot of potential and a lot of shades. So I'm looking forward to it.