Mahima Makwana: Career as a Child Actor Was A ‘Great Learning,’ Says She Subconsciously Manifested ‘Musafir Cafe’ Role (EXCLUSIVE)

It’s been a life spent in front of the camera for actor Mahima Makwana, who began her career with appearances in television shows like “CID,” “Aahat,” “Mohe Rang De,” “Miley Jab Hum Tum,” “Jhansi Ki Rani,” “Balika Vadhu” and “Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke” as a child artiste. As one of the female leads in Netflix’s “Musafir Cafe, Makwana, now 26, says every phase of her journey so far has shaped the actor she has become.

Late realizations

Speaking to Variety India, Makwana says acting was not a calculated career choice at the outset. "I wasn’t looking at this as a full-fledged profession. I only enjoyed being in front of the camera. I soon realized that I wanted to be a part of meaningful stories. Now, I know I like playing parts that have material. But these realizations came in much later," she shares.

Looking back at the years of auditions, uncertainty and balancing work with school, she says those experiences taught her discipline and resilience. Says Mahima Makwana, "Nothing can replace hard work and intent. You also have to be disciplined because there are going to be good and bad days. When I first started, I was just trying to make ends meet, but acting slowly became my passion. I only look at it as a great learning."

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Training grounds

The actor admits that there were periods when work was inconsistent, but she believes those struggles helped shape her outlook. She adds, "If I hadn't had those many years of juggling between getting work and not getting work, feeling grateful and feeling disappointed, I wouldn't have been the person that I am today. Everyone has their own share of struggles. Mine changed me and altered my childhood, but I wouldn't have asked for anything better."

Being an earning member as a child came with its own challenges, but she says she never looked at her journey with self-pity. Makwana explains, "I was only looking at what I was supposed to do and I did it with grace. Nobody asked me to go for it. When I look back, I realise life could have been different, but I feel grateful for everything. I don't look at my journey from a place of pity, I look at it from a place of strength. Had my mother (Meena Makwana) and I not put in the hard work and sacrifices, we wouldn't have had the life that we had."

Role recall

Cast in Netflix's “Musafir Cafe,” alongside Vikrant Massey and Vedika Pinto, Makwana made another unconventional choice by deciding not to read Divya Prakash Dubey's bestselling novel before filming. While many actors rely on the source material, she intentionally stayed away from it. "It was a conscious choice to not read the book. I knew about the book and author Divya Prakash Dubey. Also, I wanted to bring something different to the table as an actor and I didn’t want to confuse myself," she explains.

According to Mahima, the series is not a page-to-page adaptation of the novel. She reveals, "I would like to call it an extension of the adaptation. The setting is the same, but we've brought changes to the character arcs and dynamics. A lot of things vary when the format changes."

Character connect

The role of Preeti was one she instantly connected with. She says, "I fell in love with the character when it was offered to me because I think I subconsciously manifested it."

Her character's definition of independence appealed to her the most. She adds, “As women, we often seek validation through achievements because of our conditioning. But her sense of individuality was what really caught my attention."

Mahima also credits director Ruchir Arun for helping her shape the character through extensive discussions and backstory sessions. She adds that filming in Mussoorie fulfilled a long-held dream, too. She says, "It was a beautiful place, and I've always wanted to own a coffee shop. My character gets to do that. ‘Musafir Cafe’ also gave me the opportunity to play a woman who challenges conventional ideas of independence."