Mona Singh opens up on ‘Happy Patel’ and ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ roles, says Aamir Khan 'shut everyone up' by playing her father

Mona Singh is having a remarkable start to 2026, marking a strong return to the big screen after ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. Within just the first two months of the year, the actor has already delivered multiple releases, showcasing her versatility across genres and platforms. January proved especially significant for Mona as she had two theatrical releases: ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’ and ‘Border 2’. In a candid interview recently, the actress reflected on her unique professional bond with Aamir Khan, revealing how the superstar "shut everyone up" by playing her father in 'Happy Patel' just years after she played his mother in 'Laal Singh Chaddha.'Reflecting on the experience, she told SCREEN that theatrical releases carry a unique thrill. “It hits you differently. 70 mm screen is a different ballgame,” she said, highlighting the emotional connection audiences have with cinema halls. What made this phase even more exciting was the diversity in her characters. While she played a quirky don-like figure in ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’, she stepped into the role of a soldier’s wife in ‘Border 2’. The stark contrast between these roles underlines her ability to seamlessly shift between extremes.Mona traced her film journey back to ‘3 Idiots’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Interestingly, she never anticipated a flood of film offers post its massive success. “Honestly, no. I was happy doing TV at that time,” she admitted, adding that she was simply grateful to share screen space with actors she deeply admired.After ‘3 Idiots’, Mona revealed she was frequently offered mother roles. However, she consciously chose to avoid being boxed into a single image. “I was offered a lot of mom roles. But I just don’t want to be a mom,” she said, emphasising her focus on characters that go beyond labels.Her decision to take up ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ came from the depth of the character. “That’s why I said yes… because she was the hero of the film. She did so much!”, Mona explained, adding that her admiration for the original ‘Forrest Gump’ also played a key role in her decision. Mona’s professional journey with Aamir Khan has seen interesting twists over the years. From playing his mother in ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ to sharing a quirky connection in ‘3 Idiots’, their collaborations have always stood out for their uniqueness.Talking about ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’, Mona recalled the surprising casting choice where Aamir played her father. “Guess who’s playing your dad?… ‘Aamir!’” she laughed, adding, “He shut everyone up! He’s a very smart and intelligent actor.” She praised his ability to break conventions and experiment fearlessly. Beyond films, Mona has also been making waves on OTT. She recently headlined Season 2 of ‘Kohrra’ and took on a bold role as gangster Babli in ‘Subedaar’. These performances further highlight her shift towards more layered, intense characters in recent years. Following her recent appearances in ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’, ‘Border 2’, ‘Kohrra’ and ‘Subedaar’, Mona Singh has a busy slate in 2026 across both theatrical and streaming platforms.