After a run of over two years, Mangal Lakshmi is set to air its final episode tonight. The decision comes at a time when the show was exploring a new romantic arc, making the abrupt end particularly difficult for its protagonist, Deepika Singh.She says, “I was shocked when I heard the news because I wasn’t prepared for it at all. Mangal Lakshmi was only growing, especially with the love track between Avinash Sachdev’s character and mine opening up, and then came this sudden decision. I have given my best to the show, and this set had become like a home. When something becomes home, you don’t expect to pack up overnight. Maybe there’s a bigger plan that I can’t see yet.”At a stage when many actresses in their late 30s and 40s find themselves moving into supporting roles, Deepika believes her commitment to constant learning has helped her sustain a long innings as a leading lady. She says, “A lot of my friends say I’m fortunate, and yes, I am. But behind that fortune is sadhana that no one sees. I started learning Odissi and martial arts in 2014 and have stayed committed to them ever since, even during 14-hour shoot schedules. Those disciplines became part of my characters in Diya Aur Baati Hum and Mangal Lakshmi. I also turn to texts like the Natya Shastra, Ramayana and Bhagwat Gita. They help me understand rasa, bhava and dharma, adding depth to my performances. I keep watching great actors because they humble and inspire me. This isn’t luck. It’s riyaaz done every day for years.”She also feels television is slowly becoming more accepting of women leading stories irrespective of age, marriage or motherhood. She says, “If you perform with sincerity, energy and authenticity, you can connect with audiences at any age. I played Sandhya in Diya Aur Baati Hum when I was younger and Mangal a decade later. The shift is happening, even if slowly, but we still call it ‘brave casting’ when a woman above 35 headlines a show. The day we stop calling it brave and simply call it casting, we’ll know we’ve won. Motherhood, marriage and age aren’t boxes. They’re just life, and life deserves to be the main story.”For now, Deepika wants to take a short break, reconnect with herself and make up for lost time with her son. She says, “The last two-and-a-half years of Mangal Lakshmi meant no weekends, festivals, temple visits or sick days, so first I’ll sleep without an alarm. I also want to be back in the role of a mother. I missed PTMs, holidays, first days of school and birthdays, while my sister-in-law and mother-in-law became my backbone. Mangal Lakshmi gave me career highs, but my son gives me life. So, for a while, I’ll just be a mumma. I won’t take work just for visibility. I’m open to OTT, films, plays and reality shows, but it will always be quality over quantity.”
