Discovering Mona Wasu’s world of art & zennish perspectives

The accomplished, non-conformist TV star shares her insights on living authentically and with resilience in an exclusive interview.

Mona Wasu, a talented Indian actress, has made her mark in the entertainment industry with her compelling performances on television and in films. Best known for her award winning title role in the TV series ‘Miilee’ and winning the reality show ‘Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao’ (2009), Mona has consistently showcased her versatility and passion in her showbiz career. With a career spanning over two decades playing leading roles in TV dramas, she has been admired in the industry for her dedication, unique perspective, and independent spirit.

Lotus has discovered that beyond and behind her professional achievements is another Mona harboring an introspective and philosophical approach to life. Her social media presence and interviews reveal a deep thinker who values authenticity, empathy, and resilience. She often reflects on her journey with a blend of humor and wisdom, making her a captivating personality both on and off-screen. Intrigued by her personality and perspectives, especially after learning about her through an article penned by her father, P.S. Wasu, for Lotus, we sought an interview with her even as she was busy shooting for a project in Mumbai. Excerpts:

Lotus: What inspired you to pursue a career in showbiz?

Mona Wasu: When I was growing up, cinema and TV were a big source of entertainment apart from playtime outdoors. I was fascinated by the actors living out characters on screen. It felt like a sophisticated version of playing pretend. I felt like a bit of everyone. I could enjoy fantasizing about being a teacher, a gardener, a maid, or an entrepreneur, and weave scenes and situations, playing them out in my head for hours before sleeping.

I was interested in experiencing everything, and as a child, I thought that was possible and a natural course of life. So, acting turned out to be the next best thing for me. The joy of feeling something and having a witness who believes it and is one with your experience at that moment thrilled me, apart from the glamour and attention, which are enjoyable too. Even though I had varied interests, this one stuck around, and I just never got bored of it somehow.

“I am hypersensitive yet extremely resilient, which makes me funnily strange and strangely funny. Some of my thought spirals may have a zennish tint because my personality traits require me to live in a state of contradiction comfortably.”

Lotus: When did you take the plunge?

Mona Wasu: While in college, I started doing theater. That exposure gave me confidence and moving to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting seemed like the most exciting thing to do after graduation.

Lotus: Your father, P.S. Wasu, describes you as having a unique Zen-like perspective from a young age. Can you share some childhood experiences that reflect this?

Mona Wasu: If I do have a Zen-like perspective, then it is unconsciously so. Probably because I am hypersensitive yet extremely resilient that makes me funnily strange and strangely funny. Some of my thought spirals may have a zennish tint because my personality traits require me to live in a state of contradiction comfortably.

Lotus: How did your upbringing shape your outlook on life and career?

Mona Wasu: I was brought up in a comfortable, open, and gender-neutral environment that encouraged my creativity and boosted my confidence. My upbringing and early experiences made it natural for me to trust the world to be a safe space to explore and for myself to be fully capable of doing so, which I believe was instrumental in achieving early success in my career.

“I think one can start the real journey of being an artist only once the preoccupation with what the public thinks and the need to work for money rather than creating art can be eliminated.”

Lotus: Please share key life lessons you have learned while working in the entertainment industry?

Mona Wasu: I have learned that there is no replacement for discipline and hard work and that it is imperative to let go of short-term gratification for long-term goals. Every choice one makes along the way has a lasting impact and consequences, but that shouldn’t affect our ability to take risks and our confidence to forge our own paths that may never have been walked on before. Showbiz is like a game of snakes and ladders that is best played like a game of chess.

Lotus: Yet you seem to be maintaining a sense of inner peace and wisdom.

Mona Wasu: Wisdom cannot be maintained; it can only be had. Besides, I do not think I am wise. Inner peace, though, is familiar yet fleeting, like the clouds. We and everything around us are constantly morphing and transforming; therefore, I do not feel burdened by the need to identify with any ideologies, traits, and opinions. And as I grow older, I feel a diminishing need to justify or defend any label that I may be given by others. Knowing my priorities, what is effective for me is a general sense of detachment from my immediate environment no matter how chaotic and overwhelming it may get sometimes, and being rooted in awareness in my own body, caring for my cats and spending time with them, keeping my house and room clean and in order, discarding unwanted things regularly, and not letting the stuff, both mental and physical, rot.

Lotus: Can you share some insights that impacted your personal growth and perspective?

Mona Wasu: Yes, being misunderstood sometimes by friends, acquaintances, or family helped me understand that people may have a totally different screenplay running in their heads that may be far removed from reality. They can have imagined stories about you that may have more to do with their insecurities than your weaknesses or intentions. The same may be the case of my perceived reality of others. That pushed me to build a non-existent muscle in my system, in other words, a tolerance I seemed to lack previously for being comfortably misunderstood. And that has helped me grow personally and care less about the workings of the minds of others.

Lotus: What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry, and how have you overcome them?

Mona Wasu: Sexism, unequal pay, unequal opportunities, impractical and stressful working hours, a generally corrupt system and a casual acceptance of it, a lack of empathy and respect for co-workers, and a tendency to focus on profit maximization rather than creative brilliance are some of the challenges I face in the industry. Sadly, I have not overcome them.

“Showbiz is like a game of snakes and ladders, best played like a game of chess. We and everything around us are constantly morphing and transforming; therefore, I do not feel burdened by the need to identify with ideologies, traits, and opinions.”

Lotus: How do you handle the pressures and expectations that come with being in the public eye?

Mona Wasu: I don’t think the public eye has any expectations or puts any pressure. The public doesn’t care. It’s the artist who cares about what the public thinks. I think one can start the real journey of being an artist only once the preoccupation with what the public thinks and the need to work for money rather than creating art can be eliminated.

Lotus: How do you continue to evolve both personally and professionally?

Mona Wasu: I try to understand my mind and constantly make an effort to overcome my weaknesses. I expose myself to the works of other artists, writers, poets, musicians, dreamers, madmen, and people I admire to stimulate my own mind. I am trying to strengthen my tolerance for the discomfort caused by challenging my fears and insecurities and building my ability to withstand the boredom and discomfort that is necessary for discipline, persistence, and pushing our limits sometimes.

Lotus: Who has been the most significant influence in your life?

Mona Wasu: Animals. They have altered my core in ways I don’t understand yet. However, it may not necessarily be a good thing for me, as perceivably, I seem to have become more sensitive as I now find being a witness to any kind of animal suffering extremely distressing. I find nothing more urgent than the need to undo the damage that has been done to other species by humans. This does take precedence over my personal goals, joys, and career sometimes and thus becomes a significantly detrimental distraction for me. However, I feel that eventually, the dots will join, and I shouldn’t thwart my natural inclination and responses even if they may seem incompatible with material success at this time.

Lotus: You love cats! Anything about them that intrigues you?

Mona Wasu: Their pleasure-seeking, guiltless selfishness.

Lotus: Can you share a piece of wisdom or advice that you live by?

Mona Wasu: Authenticity and empathy are more valuable than perfection and wit.

Lotus: What does life mean to you?

Mona Wasu: I don’t focus on finding a meaning. I focus on living it. It doesn’t have to mean anything. Life without meaning is as meaningful or meaningless as a life with a profound, dramatic, and imaginary meaning.

Lotus: You are a Sikh by birth. What faith do you follow now, and how do you see the coexistence of different faiths in India?

Mona Wasu: I do not follow any faith. And I don’t care what other people follow as long as no one imposes anything on me. I enjoy the coexistence of multiple faiths in India. It makes life more colorful and provides multiple sources of ancient wisdom.