Exclusive – Deepika Singh on staying away from television and her return with ‘Mangal Lakshmi’: I stayed at home out of choice and not because I did not have any work |

Deepika Singh, renowned for her role in “Diya Aur Baati Hum,” is gearing up for her comeback to television with the show “Mangal Lakshmi.” In the TV show, Deepika will play Mangal, a grounded and strong but reserved homemaker. This role is different from her previous ones, showing audiences a new aspect of her acting skills. The actress joined ETimes TV for an exclusive conversation where she opened up about her role of Mangal, the reason why she stayed away from television and more.During the interview, Deepika revealed that she was pursuing her childhood dream of learning classical dance. She also mentioned that she wasn’t prepared for a long-term commitment like television at that time.
On her role in Mangal Lakshmi
I am playing Mangal’s role in the show. She’s a homemaker, she sacrifices a lot for her loved ones. She has a lot of empathy towards people. She is the backbone of her family and it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t get credit for what all she does for her family she continues to do for them with a smile. Her married life with Adit is not great and she has to go through a lot of humiliation in everyday life. Her husband doesn’t respect her and she wants her younger sister to get a husband who respects her. She’s taking a stand for her and she’s supporting her sister.
Women sacrifice a lot and don’t get credit for it
All the housewives will resonate with my character because in day to day life we women tend to do so many things but we don’t get credit for it. This is the theme of the show that she is trying to get her respect.
I had this quest to learn classical dance and I have got Visharat
It was my childhood dream to learn classical dance and during Diya Aur Baati Hum, I got a chance to learn the dance form. In 2014, while I was doing DABH I started learning Odissi dance and when the show came to an end, I thought I had more time in hand and I continued to learn the dance form. It was my dream to learn classical dance and I gave my entire time to it. I had this quest of learning classical dance and I have got Visharat.
I wasn’t ready for a long term commitment
I wanted to be associated with acting and it’s not like I was completely away. I did Kawach, Titu Ambani, my film but at that point I wasn’t ready for a long term commitment. I had clearly mentioned it and maintained that. I did small roles like the film was just a one month schedule. Kawach was a finite series of 45 episodes. I wasn’t ready to give long term commitment because I had my exams for classical dance Aur Meri joh sadhna thi dance ke liye Woh choot jaati… now after I have got my Visharad, I practice on my own for an hour and go to my shooting. Also, as the show revolves around Mangal Lakshmi I’m getting a breather. It’s not like I’m shooting for 30 days a month. I’m getting time to dance. I genuinely wanted to try for web-series and films but it couldn’t happen at that time.
I was not craving to do television at that point of time
I always feel that you should not do anything till the time you don’t crave for it. I was not craving to do television at that point of time. Mera dhyaan dance seekhne mein tha. Also since I was financially empowered because of Diya Aur Baati Hum and my social media work, I never craved to go out and work for money. I was financially independent. It’s not like I had to pay my rent or make ends meet. I wanted to be a part of a good script, some of them came my way but I wasn’t ready as my focus was on my dance and Visharad. I didn’t want to give up my dreams midway as it has always been my dream to learn dance. We have only one life and we should make the most of it.
I stayed at home out of choice and not because I did not have any work
I feel I’m very fortunate that God has given me that position that I can make choices. I stayed at home out of choice and not because I did not have any work. I was empowered because of the love of the people and my past work. I was working but not full fledged. Television is a long term commitment and I did not want to leave my dream of dancing. Now I can take up and everything is working out smoothly.