Actress Mahima Makwana has opened up about one of the challenges she continues to experience while moving between television, films and OTT. The actress believes that TV actors still face preconceived notions in Bollywood, with people sometimes forming an opinion about their abilities even before seeing them audition.
Mahima, who began her career as a child artiste on television, has gradually built a career across different entertainment platforms. After appearing in films and digital projects, she is now preparing to return as Preeti in the second season of Musafir Cafe.
Mahima Makwana on Bias Against TV Actors
Speaking about the perception of television actors in the film industry, Mahima acknowledged that the bias has not disappeared completely.
She said that she has personally experienced situations where people form an opinion about an actor before even watching their audition. According to her, performers coming from television sometimes have to work harder to convince people that they can move beyond the image associated with their earlier work.
At the same time, Mahima believes that the situation is gradually changing. Audiences today are more comfortable watching actors move between television, films and OTT platforms, making it easier for performers to establish themselves across mediums.
However, she feels that industry perceptions can take longer to change.
“Sometimes People Form an Opinion Before Seeing You Audition”
Mahima's comments highlight a challenge faced by several actors who transition from television to Bollywood.
An actor may have years of experience and a substantial fan following but can still be associated strongly with the characters they played on television. Breaking that perception can require patience and a series of different performances.
For Mahima, the answer is not to distance herself from television.
She has credited television with helping shape her both as an actor and as a person. Rather than treating her TV background as something she needs to overcome, she considers it an important part of her journey.
Mahima Says Television Made Her the Actor She Is Today
Mahima started working on television as a child and became familiar to audiences through shows including Mohe Rang De, Balika Vadhu, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Rishton Ka Chakravyuh, Mariam Khan – Reporting Live and Shubharambh.
Her television experience gave her years of exposure to acting before she entered the Hindi film industry.
The actress has therefore maintained that she does not see television as a phase that needs to be erased from her identity. Instead, it remains one of the foundations of her career.
Antim Changed Mahima's Understanding of Bollywood
Mahima made her theatrical film debut with Antim: The Final Truth, starring Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma.
The experience helped her understand how differently the film industry operates compared with television. She said the film taught her the importance of patience and made her clearer about the kind of work she wants to pursue.
Rather than expecting every opportunity to arrive quickly, Mahima appears to have adopted a more measured approach towards her career.
Her journey since Antim has included projects across OTT and other formats, allowing her to explore characters beyond the image associated with her television work.
Musafir Cafe Became an Important Turning Point
Mahima's performance as Preeti in Musafir Cafe has given her another opportunity to showcase a different side of her acting.
The Netflix series also stars Vikrant Massey and Vedika Pinto. The story follows Chander, played by Vikrant, whose life and relationships evolve over several years, eventually bringing Preeti into his life.
Mahima has said that she became emotionally connected to Preeti because of the character's vulnerabilities and emotional depth.
Her approach to the role was not to over-prepare or decide everything about the character in advance. Instead, she preferred understanding the material and allowing the character to develop naturally on set.
Musafir Cafe Season 2 Will Explore a New Phase
Following the response to the first season, Musafir Cafe Season 2 will take its characters into a different stage of their lives.
Mahima believes the emotional world of the series will remain intact, while the characters will face new questions surrounding relationships, choices and what they actually want from life.
For Preeti, the second season also provides Mahima with an opportunity to explore aspects of the character that were not fully visible earlier.
The actress has said she is looking forward to discovering that side of Preeti rather than imposing a predetermined interpretation on her.
Mahima Makwana on Rejection and Staying Persistent
Apart from industry bias, Mahima also spoke about another reality of an acting career: rejection.
According to the actress, hard work does not always guarantee an opportunity. Sometimes timing, circumstances and other factors can determine whether an actor gets a role.
She has therefore learned not to take either success or rejection too personally.
For Mahima, the key is to keep showing up, continue learning and wait for the right opportunity.
Her approach reflects the larger journey of an actor who started on television as a child and is now attempting to build a long-term career across multiple mediums.
A Changing Entertainment Industry
The growing popularity of OTT platforms has created more opportunities for actors who do not necessarily fit traditional Bollywood casting patterns.
Mahima believes audiences are now more open to performers coming from different backgrounds. Actors can move between television, streaming platforms and films without necessarily being restricted to one medium.
However, her comments suggest that industry perceptions can still take time to catch up with changing audience tastes.
For Mahima, the goal appears to be simple: continue taking on varied work and allow performances to challenge whatever preconceived image may already exist.
With Musafir Cafe Season 2 ahead, the actress now has another opportunity to demonstrate the range she has developed throughout her career.
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