New Delhi: We have often heard the famous saying ‘When life gives you lemons, make the lemonade!’, which has indeed been true for Prajakta Koli, who is currently gearing up for the release of her upcoming movie ‘Neeyat’. From being an RJ to acting in movies- Prajakta has simply grabbed every opportunity and that has made her journey quite an interesting one. Known for her comedy videos based on daily life situations, her YouTube channel ‘Mostly Sane’ has millions of followers and so does her Instagram handle. After a remarkable performance as ‘Dimple’ in ‘Mismatched’, the audience now eagerly waits to see her as ‘Gigi’ in ‘Neeyat’.
To know more about her upcoming movie and also about her exciting journey, ABP Live had a candid conversation with her over a video call where she shared the reason behind naming her channel ‘Mostly Sane’, talked about her journey and also shared insights about the movie ‘Neeyat’.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
Why did you name your channel ‘Mostly Sane’?
I get this question so often, and I really wished I had an interesting answer for it, but the fact of the matter is my name being really long was so butchered in college, by students, by my teachers… So, I thought, when I am putting myself on the internet, I don’t want my name to get butchered even more. So, that’s why I didn’t want to call the channel ‘Prajakta Koli’. Otherwise, Mostly Sane was literally on top of my head- there’s no rhyme or rhythm to it.
Your comedy was based on daily life incidents, which made it even more relatable. What was the reason behind choosing those topics?
At that time when I started making content, it could either be a fashion influencer or a food influencer or travel or lifestyle makeup and I didn’t have any idea of those things- the only content that I come remotely close to writing was a blog that I used to have, which was very similar to the kind of content that I put on my channel. I always loved writing and it was fun writing about different characters, thinking about different stories from different perspectives… but then again, Montu was completely fictional, but the parent’s character was completely based on my parents.
Your first lead role was in the web series ‘Mismatched’. So, what was your reaction when you got that role?
It was quite crazy! Because I remember when I got a call and was told that we want to audition you for the role of ‘Dimple’, at that time the show was called ‘When Dimple Met Rishi’, so I was all excited and I went to the audition with absolutely no hope and I am surprised that that went on and I am so glad that it did. Now, when I think of it if I had not gotten to be ‘Dimple’, and I would see the show do the way it did, then I would have died of FOMO.
You began your career as an RJ and then moved on to comedy and now you are doing films. So, how did this transition happen?
I think, life just happened I guess because I was not really happy to be a radio jockey. So, when the opportunity to be on YouTube came up, I grabbed it and honestly, when I started making content I didn’t venture into this side more of being an actor and an OTT Show or a film would be a possibility, beyond what I was doing. It’s all been a very pleasant surprise on this roller coaster ride that I’ve had in the past eight years- new doors kept opening up and I love to try new things.
Can you share something about your upcoming film ‘Neeyat’?
‘Neeyat’ is a murder mystery which we shot in London and Scotland and it’s about the murder of ‘Ashish Kapoor’, played by Ram Kapoor and Vidya Balan is the CBI officer who has come to investigate this. And, all the people who had come there for a party have now become prime suspects as someone has died. Then you realise that everybody had a reason, a motive and there’s something going on.
I play the character of ‘Gigi’, who is Ashish Kapoor’s son’s girlfriend- she is a newcomer there, she is not an insider. So, there’s a lot of mystery around her also. Out of all the parties she could be at, how is she at this one? And then something went wrong… So, it’s a classic Who’s-done-it kind of murder mystery. It could be anyone here. Everybody is a suspect.
Apart from being a thriller, there is a lot of family drama, there are a lot of relationships that unravel, there are a lot of secrets that suddenly come out, there are a lot of different motives and I think my favourite part about ‘Neeyat’ is that how unpredictable it is.
‘Neeyat’ directed by Anu Menon is slated to hit the theatres on July 7.