“I Could Barely Spot Myself”: Monalisa Opens Up About Being Overlooked in Bunty Aur Babli

Sometimes, career-defining moments don’t collapse dramatically—they simply fade away when least expected. For Bhojpuri actor Monalisa, one such experience came early in her journey, when a promising Bollywood opportunity didn’t unfold the way she had hoped.

In a recent interaction with Telly Talk India, Monalisa reflected on her early struggle to establish herself in Hindi cinema. She spoke candidly about her brief involvement in Bunty Aur Babli (2005), starring Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji, and how the experience left her disappointed.

The actor revealed that she had been part of a song sequence in the film and spent nearly a week shooting for it. At the time, being associated with a major banner like Yash Raj Films felt like a breakthrough moment in her career. However, her excitement faded during the preview screening.

“I was part of a song in Bunty Aur Babli and shot for about seven to eight days. When I got the offer, I thought this was it—working with Yash Raj Films felt like I had achieved something big. I believed the song would give me recognition. But when I saw the preview, I kept searching for myself. I could barely spot my presence, and I knew others wouldn’t notice me at all,” she shared.

She added that despite working on a high-profile project, she didn’t receive the recognition she had expected from big production houses.

Monalisa also spoke about her appearance in the film Blackmail, where she featured in an item number. While she hoped the performance would open doors in Bollywood, it didn’t deliver the results she was looking for.

“I thought that song would bring better opportunities, but it didn’t work out that way. I wasn’t getting the acceptance I had hoped for. Still, I had to continue working and take up whatever came my way,” she explained.

Facing limited opportunities in mainstream Hindi cinema, Monalisa chose consistency over waiting for big breaks. She shifted her focus to regular work, including stage performances and roles across multiple regional film industries such as Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu.

“For me, staying active and working was the priority,” she said.

In recent years, Monalisa has maintained her presence on television and digital platforms. She was last seen on the JioHotstar reality show The 50, where she participated alongside her husband Vikram Singh Rajpoot. However, her journey on the show ended early, while Shiv Thakare emerged as the winner.