Actor Mouni Roy is a true performer; whether she’s embodying Junoon, the vicious yet loyal antagonist in Brahmāstra, or transforming into Naagin, the television character that catapulted her into the public eye, she does so with unwavering zeal. In a chat with Travel+Leisure India & South Asia at the Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort, the small-town girl reveals how she is excited for the future.
Excerpts from the interview with Mouni Roy
T+L India: You come from the small town of Cooch Behar in West Bengal. How have your growing years shaped you?
Mouni Roy: You can take a girl out of her small town, but you cannot take the small town out of a girl! My family, the culture, literature, and history [of my hometown] have shaped the person I am today. I’m excited for my present and future, and it all comes from the fact that I’m from Cooch Behar. [I’m a] small-town girl with big dreams, with her priorities right.
T+L India: As an outsider in the entertainment industry, what was the journey like?
Mouni Roy: It was difficult, and it still is. You are as good as your present release, no matter how hard you work. But I’m in this for the long run. I’m in this profession because I’m passionate about it and I love what I do. So, it doesn’t matter how difficult or bumpy the roller coaster is.
T+L India: The entertainment industry can be demanding—physically, emotionally, and mentally. How do you cope with these pressures?
Mouni Roy: Yes, the entertainment industry is emotionally and physically demanding. But it’s also a cakewalk when you love what you do. A minuscule percentage of the world’s population wakes up every morning feeling ecstatic about going to work. [Actors] happen to be one of them!
T+L India: What does a typical holiday with your female besties look like?
Mouni Roy: Mostly, the husbands are also there [laughs]. But an all-girls trip [involves] good sleep, meditation, good food, even better conversations, swimming, and dancing under a moonlit sky.
T+L India: What kind of traveller are you?
Mouni Roy: Holidaying, for me, involves going to parks in the morning for a hearty breakfast at a sidewalk cafe and reading a book. [I also enjoy] exploring the destination’s history and culture. But after meeting my husband, we have included music festivals and pub crawls, too. Now we decide the days when we will wake up early and the nights when we won’t go to sleep at all!
T+L India: What were your first impressions of Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort?
Mouni Roy: I wasn’t expecting it. I landed in Chandigarh and after a two-hour drive, I was in the mountains. The weather had changed; there was a nip in the air. We reached the property via a cable car —it was beautiful! The rooms have balconies, and the spa at Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort is wonderful. The heart is happy!
Related: Actor Tamannaah Bhatia Unwinds In Sentosa & Recounts Her Favourite Family Holidays
Written By
Bayar Jain
Senior Content ManagerEquipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing ..Read More
