Monika Khanna on Playing Ramkudi – “All the Preparation I Had Done Turned Out to Be of No Use”
The Homework That Didn’t Work Out
Every actor steps into a new role with some amount of preparation. But not all characters come to life the way you imagine. Actress Monika Khanna, who plays Ramkudi in Sun Neo’s newly launched show Prathaon Ki Odhe Chunri: Beendani, experienced exactly that.
Talking about her initial approach, she revealed:
“When I was offered this character, I did my homework. I was told she was abandoned, had been to jail, and had spent time in a mental asylum. Naturally, I prepared for a dramatic, intense portrayal. But everything turned upside down. All the preparation I had done turned out to be of no use. Raghuveer Sir made it clear he didn’t want anything loud or over-the-top. At first, I was confused, but gradually, I began to understand what he was looking for.”
From Intensity to Subtlety
Monika explained that the director wanted a raw, natural performance rather than a dramatic one.
“Not everyone who has gone through trauma becomes a loud, menacing figure. Some people carry their pain quietly, even with a touch of dark humor. They may seek revenge, but their methods are subtle, like slow poison. On the surface, they seem harmless, but inside, they eat away at everything, like termites. That’s what Ramkudi is.”
A Lesson in Adaptability
While her initial preparation didn’t make it to the screen, Monika views it as a valuable learning experience:
“In the end, none of my original preparation was used, but that turned out to be a learning experience in itself. Sometimes, when things don’t go as planned, you discover something even more powerful. That’s what I’m learning right now.”
About the Show
Prathaon Ki Odhe Chunri: Beendani follows the journey of Ghevar, a spirited young girl from a small Rajasthani village. After losing her parents, she is lovingly raised by her elder brother and sister-in-law. Her life changes when a newborn child unexpectedly enters their family — a child who connects two completely different worlds.
As hope, heartbreak, and hidden truths intertwine, Ghevar becomes the center of a powerful story about promises, sacrifices, and a woman’s fight to protect what she loves.
📺 Watch Prathaon Ki Odhe Chunri: Beendani every day at 9:00 pm only on Sun Neo.
