At 44, Mona Singh continues to redefine what it means to be a leading woman in Indian entertainment. From portraying Kareena Kapoor Khan’s elder sister to playing Sunny Deol’s wife in Border 2, the versatile actress has embraced a wide range of characters — even those older than her real age. While she is comfortable taking on such roles, Mona is vocal about one harsh reality of the industry: the unfair “expiry date” placed on women in Bollywood.
With an impressive body of work that includes beloved characters like Mona Sahastrabuddhe in 3 Idiots, Gurpreet Kaur Chaddha in Laal Singh Chaddha, and Simi Kaler in Border 2, Mona has proven her adaptability time and again. Yet, she admits that she’s often questioned about her on-screen age. “Why are you so old on screen?” is something she’s frequently asked. Her response is simple — age doesn’t matter when the character excites her.
In a recent conversation with entertainment portal, Mona shared that she has never been overly concerned about how old her characters appear. Confident in her identity and secure in her craft, she believes she has nothing to prove. For her, the thrill lies in taking risks and exploring roles that challenge her, rather than chasing conventional expectations of glamour or youth.
However, the actress did not shy away from addressing Bollywood’s gender bias. She pointed out that Hindi cinema remains one of the few industries where women are assigned an invisible shelf life. “Men in their 60s can still play romantic leads, but women can’t,” she remarked, calling the disparity both disappointing and deeply rooted. Despite this, Mona says she has never allowed such limitations to define her choices, refusing to be boxed in by outdated norms.
On the professional front, Mona began the year playing a quirky don in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, marking Vir Das’s directorial debut. Produced by Aamir Khan’s banner, the film also features Mithila Palkar, Sharib Hashmi, and saw Imran Khan’s much-awaited return to the big screen.
More recently, audiences watched her play Lt. Col. Fateh Singh Kaler’s wife in the blockbuster war drama Border 2, alongside Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh.
Up next, Mona will take on yet another dynamic role — that of a sharp, capable police officer in Kohrra 2, co-starring Barun Sobti. The crime thriller series is set to stream on Netflix from February 11, 2026.
Fearless, outspoken, and constantly evolving, Mona Singh continues to challenge stereotypes — proving that talent has no age limit.
