Mumbai: Monalisa is all set to explore a different side of her acting with *Love To Hate You*, a story that brings together romance, family drama, secrets and unexpected twists. The show looks at how love can change when trust is questioned and hidden truths start coming out. For Monalisa, the emotional side of the story is what makes it interesting.
Talking about what made her take up the show, Monalisa says, “What I really liked about the show was that my character is not very simple. There are many emotions and situations that she goes through. I like playing characters where I can show different shades. When I read the story, I felt there was something interesting for me as an actor. The story has love, but it also has betrayal, pain and many twists, so I was excited to be a part of it.”
The show deals with relationships where trust is tested again and again. For Monalisa, portraying these emotions meant understanding the character instead of just focusing on the dialogues. “When you are playing an emotional character, you have to understand what the person is feeling. Sometimes the character is angry, sometimes hurt and sometimes confused. I tried to understand why she was reacting in a particular way. I also tried to keep it very natural because these emotions should not look forced. The more you understand your character, the easier it becomes to perform those scenes.”
The actress also feels that the secrets and rivalries in the story make the characters more complicated. “The challenging part is that there are so many things happening at the same time. There are family issues, secrets and misunderstandings. As an actor, you have to remember what your character knows and what she doesn’t know. Sometimes you are playing a scene with one emotion, but inside you know there is something else happening. That makes it interesting but also difficult.”
While thrillers are known for their unexpected moments, Monalisa admits that even she came across moments in the script that made her curious. “Yes, there were some moments where I was like, ‘Oh, this is going to happen?’ I don’t want to reveal anything because that will spoil the fun for the audience. But there are definitely moments which will make people stop and think. Even while reading the script, I wanted to know what would happen next.”
For Monalisa, the biggest connection audiences may find with her character is the emotional journey. “I think everyone has faced situations where they have trusted someone and later felt hurt or confused. Sometimes we don’t know the complete truth and we react according to what we see. My character also goes through these kinds of emotions. I feel people will understand that side of her because relationships are never perfect.”
Speaking about the chemistry between the lead characters, she adds, “The chemistry has to look comfortable and real. You cannot just create it in front of the camera. We spent time talking and understanding each other as actors. Once you are comfortable with your co-actors, it becomes easier to perform emotional and romantic scenes. I think that comfort will be visible on screen.”
Finally, if she had to describe *Love To Hate You* in just three words, Monalisa keeps it simple: **“Love, secrets and twists.”**
With its mix of romance, emotions and suspense, *Love To Hate You* promises to take viewers through a relationship where nothing is as simple as it looks. For Monalisa, the chance to explore these different emotions is what makes the journey special.
