Mahima Makwana is soaking in the overwhelming love coming her way for her performance as Preeti in ‘Musafir Cafe‘, a character that has struck a deep emotional chord with audiences. As you speak to her, her voice is also brimming with emotions and clearly, this sort of an emotional connect is what she’s dreamt of as an actor. Moments into a conversation with her, you realise how real and honest she is, which perhaps also reflects onscreen. She’s warm, candid and all heart. In this candid conversation, the actor reflects on the show’s phenomenal response, the quiet strength and vulnerability that define Preeti, and why the role has become one of the most special of her career. She also opens up about growing up on film sets, reinventing herself after television, navigating the uncertainties of the entertainment industry, staying grounded despite years in the spotlight, and the invaluable lessons she has learnt from co-stars like Salman Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Vikrant Massey and Adil Hussain. All this and more in this tête-à-tête… ‘Musafir Cafe’ has received an overwhelming response from audiences. How have you been processing all the love coming your way?Honestly, the response has been so beautiful. I think ‘Musafir Cafe’ helped me build that connect with my audience, and as actors, that’s all we strive for. Sometimes, when that connection translates into something this massive, it’s extremely surreal. I’ve been receiving messages from every corner of the country and even from different parts of the world. People are rooting for Preeti because I think they saw themselves in her. Whether it was her confidence, her courage, or even her insecurities, they found a part of themselves in Preeti. That’s the beauty of storytelling—it has the power to touch millions of hearts at the same time. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words what Preeti Kaushik has done for me. I’m just really, really thankful. Ever since I started my career, all I wanted was to build an emotional connection with people and find a place in their hearts.Every day, I wake up to countless DMs filled with love. It’s not just about a project becoming a success or a hit. It’s about making it memorable, making it remarkable, and becoming a part of people’s lives. I’m extremely grateful. It’s overwhelming, it’s beautiful, and honestly, it’s everything I dreamt of.I love the fact that I’m not only being appreciated for my performance, but that somehow Preeti has become a part of everybody’s life. As an actor, that’s a dream come true. Not every project gives you that, so I’m truly thankful.Your performance relied as much on silence as it did on dialogue. Was that a conscious choice? Also, perhaps did you feel Sudha as a character had more tools than Preeti?I think by that you also mean the screen time. But I think my biggest strength today—and I say this with a lot of pride—is the honesty and sincerity that I bring to every character. That’s all I really have. I knew what I wanted to achieve with Preeti, but beyond that, you can’t plan everything. You draw from your own life, from conversations, from experiences, and then you surrender to the moment. I think people are connecting with Preeti because her silences became just as expressive as her words. Sometimes, as actors, you want to say so much, but you’re not given that many lines. Personally, I crave those silent moments because they’re the biggest challenge for me. I love when those moments are thrown at me because they force me to communicate without speaking. Over the years, whether through films, television, or simply life itself, I’ve unknowingly borrowed so many emotions and experiences. Sometimes, all you have to do is become vulnerable and let go in front of the camera. All I knew while playing Preeti was that she was my person. I was going to stand by her and give her everything I had. And I think that’s exactly what worked. I’m even happier that audiences have embraced her for her quiet grace.She’s not loud. She’s not the most secure person. She’s confident and self-assured, but what I loved about her was that she’s also vulnerable and insecure, because all of us are like that.
The show handles complex emotions with remarkable sensitivity. Do you think that’s one of the reasons audiences have connected with it?
I genuinely feel that’s one of the reasons why ‘Musafir Cafe’ has worked the way it has. It speaks about people, their flaws, and their grace.I think the show deals with every emotion with so much grace.None of us is perfect. She’s deeply in love with her partner, but she also carries a void in her heart that she’s unable to express. I think that’s what makes us human. Nobody is perfect.
While Preeti is secure, she has her moments of insecurity, self-doubt, and emotional conflict. Did you draw from your own life while portraying her? And what is it that you took as a learning?
For me, Preeti taught me that you don’t have to be loud to be courageous. You don’t have to constantly announce your strength. Sometimes, your presence alone is enough. Her biggest strength was her heart, her grace, her ability to give, and her ability to make people feel like they belonged. I think those qualities became her greatest tools, and somewhere, they stayed with me too.As far as being insecure is concerned, I think we all go through different phases in life. Some days I’m a very secure person, and on other days I’m not. Those emotions naturally spill over into both my personal and professional life because, at the end of the day, so much of what happens is beyond our control. What I realised through Preeti is that, no matter what she did, there were certain things only the other person could find within himself. She couldn’t fix everything for him. Maybe she had the bigger heart and the emotional maturity to understand that. Maybe the decision she made was more for him than for herself. As actors, we have the privilege of channelising our own experiences. I’ve felt replaceable. I’ve felt insecure. I’ve also felt confident. It was simply about tapping into those emotions whenever I needed them. At the same time, I don’t take all the credit because I’m an instinctive actor. I’m not formally trained. My training happened on film sets. I started working when I was ten years old, and when you’ve spent so much of your life on sets, you absorb things without even realising it. Of course, the writing deserves immense credit. I don’t like to generalise, but I genuinely feel that when female writers tell stories, they often bring a different emotional sensitivity. The way Ruchir and Sharanya wrote every character, especially Preeti and Sudha, was filled with so much grace.
You’ve been working since you were a child. Looking back, how has that journey shaped the actor you are today? Also when you’ve been in the limelight ever since childhood, how do you protect inner core and stay true to being you?
I wasn’t born with the kind of strength or perspective that I have today. Everything that’s happened in my journey—the highs as well as the lows—has shaped the person I am. Honestly, if you ask me how things eventually worked out, I don’t have a clear answer. That’s the beauty of this profession. No two actors have the same journey. No two child actors, directors, or writers have similar paths, and there is no formula for success.When I started, I had no idea I’d end up doing so much in life. In fact, it was my mother who wanted me to become an actor. At different stages of my life, I had different goals. I’ve also always tried to be realistic. There’s so much uncertainty in this profession and sometimes money is also a huge factor. I never had the privilege of sitting at home and waiting for the perfect project. I had to make the most of whatever opportunities came my way. Honestly, it has been a journey of trial and error—doing the best I could with whatever was in front of me. Being a child actor and growing up on film sets was overwhelming at times, but had I not gone through those experiences, I don’t think I would have become the actor I am today.
And what was the biggest challenge for you?
When I was doing television, I consciously wanted to be part of unconventional stories—stories that weren’t being told often. Some of those shows didn’t run for very long, but as an actor, they gave me so much. I was proud of the work I was doing. At the same time, I wanted to explore what films and OTT had to offer, so I auditioned for everything I could. The biggest challenge was starting from scratch all over again. Imagine spending almost ten years building a name for yourself and then entering a space where you’re perceived as a newcomer. It really punctured my ego. But that’s exactly what I had signed up for. I could have comfortably continued doing television, and it’s not like I wasn’t doing well there. But I wanted to challenge myself.Even after all those years of experience, people looked at me as a fresh face, and honestly, that was okay because how people perceive you is never in your control. I was simply reacting to the opportunities that came my way and trying to make the best of each one.
Did your career change after ‘Antim’?
It definitely did. After ‘Antim’, I genuinely thought my life was going to change, and in many ways, it did. But then another question emerged, how do I create a space that’s truly mine? How do I carve my own identity? The only way to do that is by making the most of the opportunities you’re offered. I’m grateful that ‘Antim’ happened for me and then ‘Tumse Na Ho Payega’ happened because it allowed people to see me as a modern young woman, something very different from what I’d done before. Those are the little decisions that slowly shape your journey. Nothing is really in your control, but you can control the choices you make whenever an opportunity comes your way.
Despite starting so young at the age of 10, and achieving success across different mediums, how did you manage to hold on to your core, stay grounded and be so real?
Honestly, I don’t know if there’s one answer to that. The people around me have played the biggest role. My friends, my family, and the kind of upbringing I’ve had have kept me grounded. My mother has always told me, “No matter what happens, don’t let success enter your head.”When you start working at such a young age, you tend to take everything very seriously, and I did too. But with time, you grow up. You become more practical and more realistic. You realise that this is also a business. Sometimes things work in your favour, sometimes they don’t.
What has really held me together is my family, my friends, and even the time between projects. Those phases teach you patience because they’re never in your control. In fact, I think the uncertainty of this profession has helped me become a realist. It has made me more self-aware. Lately, I’ve also started looking at life beyond my profession. Acting is a huge part of who I am, but it isn’t my entire identity anymore.For me, it’s a constant process of preserving my energy and staying authentic. There will always be people around you, and it’s easy to get influenced. But I think it’s about returning to your core, again and again. That’s a choice I consciously make.
You’ve worked with actors like Salman Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Vikrant Massey. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from them?
One common lesson I’ve learnt from all my senior co-actors—whether it’s Naseer Sir, Emraan Sir, Salman Sir, Vikrant or Adil (Hussain) Sir, is that there’s so much more to life than acting. If you want to sustain yourself in this industry, there’s no substitute for hard work.And don’t let anything get into your head. When I worked with Emraan Sir, I was struck by how professional he was. He came on time, knew his lines, did his work with complete sincerity, and left. Watching him taught me that professionalism and kindness go hand in hand. Just keep your head down and keep working because nothing is permanent. Nothing is in your control. The one thing I learnt from Salman sir is that he told me to just keep working hard. Nothing is really in your hands. The only thing you can control is the hard work you bring to the table. Be authentic. It may sound cliché, but it’s true. That’s probably the biggest gift I’ve received from him. I also remember he told me ‘hold on to my dignity, no matter what happens in this industry.’
Wrapping up with ‘Musafir Cafe’, the ending has left everyone on a cliffhanger and it’s unfair. Can fans expect a second season?
(Laughs) I honestly don’t know! I’m on the same cliffhanger as the audience because I genuinely have no idea what’s going to happen next. I really hope we get a Season 2.
