Starting out as a teenager theatre artiste, Monica Chaudhary began to grab the attention of a set of well-known casting directors before finally getting her big Bollywood break in the Ranbir Kapoor-Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (TJMM).

In 2018, Monica received a call from a casting director right after her first show Apaharan on ALT Balaji. “Casting director Vicky Sidana called me and said, ‘I want to meet you.’ When I met him, Vicky told me, ‘Monica, I think you have potential and I would like you to be very selective about work. I am going to cast you in a film’.”

Monica didn’t believe Sidana’s words at first. “You let me know whenever that happens. Till then, I’m going to do whatever comes my way. I trust you and I’ll thank you when you cast me in a film’,” she told the casting director.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Monica again received a call from Sidana, who wanted her to audition for something. “Because of Covid restrictions, my first audition was a self-test. Then I gave four to five rounds of auditions. After that, I had a meeting with Luv Ranjan, followed by a screen test. And finally, I got a call that confirmed my selection for the movie,” she explained.

Monica said it was important for outsiders to showcase their talent to the world. “When you’re an outsider, half the battle is to just prove to the world that you’re worth it and that you have talent. Usually, nobody wants to risk taking a chance with a newcomer. I am extremely grateful that Luv sir took that chance.”

Monica gushed about acting with Bollywood A-listers like Ranbir and Shraddha. “I was nervous about how to behave and what to say in front of Ranbir and Shraddha. Just acting with them on the same platform was a big validation. Ranbir gave me clues for my close-ups and read lines with me. Shraddha was also extremely helpful and considerate — she always made me comfortable.”

“What I loved about both of them was that they understood the insecurities of a new actor. It’s only because of them I have performed the way I have performed in the film,” she added.

Asked about her role in TJMM, Monica was reluctant to reveal anything as most things in the movie have been kept under wraps. “Sadly, I can’t speak about the character I play because I have been asked not to,” she signed off.

TJMM will be released in cinemas across the country on March 8.