For more than a year now Mona Singh who plays Jassi, the working-class icon in the popular soap, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin has been sporting the frumpy braces-and-glasses look to highlight the theme of an ordinary girl?s extraordinary dreams. Things have changed. And Jassi has now transformed into a svelte, well-groomed woman of the world. Mona/Jassi, just back from a long makeover innings in Mauritius, seems more than happy to speak on her dramatic transformation.

?Not so dramatic, really,? she laughs pleasantly. ?I?ve been sleeping peacefully with my braces and glasses for more than year. And I don?t think I am tired of them. The makeover isn?t ultra-glamorous or anything. It isn?t as if I?ll now go around sporting a chic attitude. Right now the fringed hairstyle is out. I?ve just had a terrific haircut. So it?s goodbye to Sadhana (the actress who patented the fringe hairstyle). I hope the glasses will stay. They?re too cute.?

But why the need for the makeover? ?If you notice, Jassi had reached a deadend in life. Her love life was in a mess. Her feelings for her boss Armaan (Apoorva Agnihotri) had been crushed. My character had more-or-less overdosed on self-annihilation and needed to feel whole and healed. That?s why the rejuvenating trip to Mauritius with Neena Gupta. That?s why the new look. Jassi?s friend Purab (Samir Soni) is going to play a big hand in her makeover.?

Why this radical shift in the soap?s policy of the all-importance of inner beauty? Mona/Jassi smiles. ?It?s true we?re now looking at both inner and outer beauty. But I don?t think that will affect the popularity of the show. My fans are as excited about my change as I am. I think the TRPs are going to go up even more.? But for those who are waiting to see what Jassi ?really? looks like, there?s bad news.

Mona Singh will still hide behind over-sized glasses. Why this need to make a spectacle of herself? ?Because that?s how I look in real life,? the poor character-challenged actress insists. She also insists that the model in the Asian Paints ad is not her?and bursts into peals of laughter.

?Seriously, I?m very excited about my new look. Hot-shot stylists like Queenie Dhody and Seema Khan are working on my appearance. Right now the only change in me is the hair and clothes. And I already can?t recognise myself in the mirror! The character hasn?t changed at all. But it was very important for Jassi to gather self-confidence, to not let people take her for granted and to look like the female entrepreneur that she is. For that she needed to look more presentable.?

So is this radical shift in the soap?s attitude to physical beauty? ?No, we never meant to say that physical beauty wasn?t important. One has to have respect for oneself. And looking presentable is part of that. But it isn?t as if Jassi is going to be one of those glamorous unattainable chicks. Then she?ll end up like the characters Mallika and Pari on the show.?

Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin has been on for nearly a year and a half. Mona/Jassi?s contract expires in May 2005. What next? ?I haven?t thought about it. I haven?t had the time. I guess I?ll take a long break in May. It?s been a really hectic time for me ? no time for anything expect work. But I asked for it. This is the time for me to build on my career.?

She has no plans for another soap. ?I want to do a soap as different and pioneering as Jassi. I?m getting a lot of film offers. But they haven?t been worth considering seriously. I?ll consider a new soap and maybe film offers after my contract with Sony expires in May. I?ll start planning soon. But one thing is for sure. I?ll never quit TV. The home medium has turned me into a household name. In cinema you?re forgotten after three hours.? But will viewers accept her as another character? ?I don?t want them to forget me as Jassi even when I stop doing the role. I?ve done so many different things within this one role. I couldn?t have hoped for a better chance to prove my talent.?