Want to bring out women’s voices: Monal Gajjar

Monal Gajjar, who has done critically acclaimed films like Vash Level 2, Kasoombo and Shubh Yatra, has turned producer. Monal, who has also done Telugu and Tamil films, will be producing three films with her cousin Ankur Adhiya in 2026. She says, “One of the films has already gone on floors. It all started two years ago, when I heard the story written by Jay Bhatt for the first time. At that time, I gave ₹11 as a token amount and decided that yeh movie toh main hi karungi. We met a few producers, but when things didn’t work out, my cousin stepped in and we decided to produce it ourselves. When you have your family’s support, a new venture feels easy.”

‘Balancing acting and production can be hectic’

Talking about her upcoming film, co-starring Gaurav Paswala, Monal shares, “Balancing acting and production can be hectic. As a producer, you are involved in every decision, and I have been handling it for a month. But managing acting isn’t difficult as the responsibilities are shared and my family is involved. There is pressure, but it’s very satisfying for me as an artiste.”

‘Want to back stories about women empowerment’

As a producer, Monal aims to bring out “the voices of women”. Elaborating on it, she shares, “My sole focus would be to back stories related to female voices and empowerment. Usually, in any language or medium, the focus is always on the hero’s journey. I want to change that as a producer. I want to bring out real stories which are a true reflection of our society. Also, I feel that Gujarati literature and folklore are unexplored, and I want to tap into that.” She adds, “My aim is to create a safe space for women artistes. I also want to give opportunities to female directors.”

‘Will maintain transparency as a producer’

As a producer, Monal’s “priority is maintaining absolute professional transparency by ensuring every verbal agreement is documented and formalised through contracts and NDAs (non-disclosure agreements).” She adds, “Having experienced the financial instability of the Gujarati film industry as an actor, I am committed to punctual payments. I aim to foster a supportive, ego-free environment where budgets are clear, and collaboration is rooted in mutual growth. I am here to learn alongside my team and ensure that no artiste or technician suffers.”

She adds, “As a producer, it won’t be about backing just those projects that feature me. We are prioritising character-driven narratives that meet the industry’s need for fresh perspectives, like a teen girl’s experience of first love or a mature woman falling in love again. My goal is to attract talented writers and directors who can offer diverse, high-quality content with strong female leads. Our goal as producers is to look beyond Gujarat and explore international markets, shifting away from one-off projects towards a consistent, professional pipeline. This steady approach will allow us to face the challenges of global distribution with a clear, long-term strategy.”


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