Exclusive - Monica Dabade: I didn't have work or money after COVID-19, but decided to wait and bagged Tharla Tar Mag

Marathi actress Monica Dabade is currently seen playing the negative role of Asmita in the show Tharla Tar Mag. The actress, who has been active in the television industry since the year 2013, is currently on cloud nine since she got the show Tharla Tar Mag a few months ago. Monica's character is currently winning hearts, but the actress' journey to this point was not easy. Monica spoke exclusively to ETimes TV and poured her heart out about her journey, struggle, and how it was hard for her to get a role in the television industry post-COVID-19. Monica also spoke about facing a financial crunch in life and shared what motivated her.

- Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar

Monica spoke about her interest in acting and said, "I have been doing many plays since 2011. I have also won many prizes and awards for my roles in college. I had already decided that I would make my career in the acting industry."

"I played a pivotal role in the film Jay Maharashtra Dhaba Bhatinda. I also got featured in the Rajmata Jijau film. I have done a Masters in Communications, and I was doing some or the other project at that time. That's when I decided to shift to Mumbai for work and settle down here in 2013.

Monica revealed that she did her first show in 2013. She stated, "I did my first ever TV show in 2013. I was a part of shows like Assa Sasar Surekh Bai, Me Tuzich Re and Aai Mayecha Kavach, etc. Then I got Tharla Tar Mag and shot to fame with it."

"I think I have done enough theater. I am a trained theater artist, so I have done a lot of rehearsals and experiments with many roles. In the theater, an actor gets to experience many emotions. While doing it, I realized that I could give many shades to villainous roles and that I could be apt for vamp characters. It is satisfying as an actor to get a chance to do many shades of one character."

Monica recalled her days when she had no money left and she decided to go back to Pune. She said, "I have given many auditions and got rejected in many auditions. I am basically from Pune, so settling down in Mumbai was altogether a new challenge. It is hard to establish yourself in Mumbai when you come from a different city. It was a mental and financial struggle. After COVID-19, I did not have any work. I had no money left. I had decided to go back to my hometown in Pune, but I later thought that I should be more 'patient'. I decided to wait, and I got the Aai Mayecha Kavach show and now Tharla Tar Mag. I am proud that I faced challenges in my life and did not ask money from my parents."
- Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar