With the second season of the OTT series Musafir Cafe officially on the cards, actor Mahima Makwana confirms that pre-production including the scripting is currently underway. “Yes, it couldn’t have gotten more exciting with the official announcement having been made. Preparations have already started, and it is in the pre-production stage. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds with the core characters, Chander, Sudha and Preeti coming back once more.”

Reflecting on her experience working alongside Vikrant Massey, Makwana highlights their strong off-screen rapport.

She shares, “Vikrant is an incredible artist and human. We have worked together earlier, so we shared common thoughts on so many things. The characters we play are evolved as humans, and to portray them well on screen, there has to be maturity in the bonding that actors share; I shared that with Vikrant.”

On how she views her journey from TV to films and, more recently, to OTT—and whether it has gotten tougher, she notes, “It’s all about how one perceives things. As an individual grows, it becomes important to realise that the journey is supposed to be a roller coaster; whatever phases you live, always know it’s all transient. I enjoy whatever comes my way. It may have started from TV for me way back in 2008 (Mohe Rang De) as a child artiste, when we all were glued to television screens with limited content, to OTT with so much happening it’s all part of my journey.”

Addressing the long-standing conversations around industry dynamics, Makwana adds, “The insider-outsider debate is done with. Let’s not pay heed to this debate altogether; we all know how the world functions. If we look around, we would realize that only a fraction of people working in our industry belong to a film background. And if anybody has an advantage, not using it would be a fool. My focus is to have blinkers and keep moving.”

Looking ahead, the actor reveals, “There is a film that will be announced soon, Musafir Cafe 2 is already under pre-production, and there is another really special announcement that will be a surprise for all.”

Mahima Makwana has paused work as she recovers from a slip disc she sustained while attempting the popular 75 Hard Challenge. The fitness programme requires participants to follow five daily rules for 75 consecutive days, with even a single missed task meaning they must restart from Day 1. While the challenge strengthened her discipline, the actress admits she overlooked one crucial aspect: recovery.

The actress, who will soon be seen in Musafir Cafe, says, “I had been doing the challenge for about a month, but in a slightly softer version. Looking back, I realized I was so focused on completing it that I wasn’t listening to my body enough. I would often work out at odd hours and compromise on my sleep. Trying to keep up with the routine alongside my hectic schedule eventually took a toll on my health, and my lower back gave up.”

The diagnosis came as a complete shock to her, who has always maintained an active lifestyle. She says, “I honestly didn’t see this coming because I’ve always been physically active. I neglected recovery, which started with persistent backaches and eventually led to the injury. I was taken aback and scared, and my only priority became healing.”

She adds, “However, I believe in the bigger plan that the universe has for us. The pain keeps fluctuating, and I’ve been advised to remain mostly horizontal for two weeks. Between proper sleep, physiotherapy, and rest, the recovery will take time. Life, routine and work, everything has paused. No matter how badly I want to speed up the process, the body will recover at its own pace, and I have to respect that.”

Reflecting on the emotional impact of the setback, she says, “It definitely takes a toll on you mentally because everything else has to wait while you focus on getting better. This phase has made me realize that health should always be our first priority. It changes the way you look at life.”

Actors Vikrant Massey and Mahima Makwana will play the romantic leads in the web-series adaptation of the novel Musafir Café. We have learnt that Mahima has begun the shoot in the hill town of Mussoorie. The series is slated for streaming on Netflix.

Massey, known for his intense yet nuanced roles, takes on the central character (presumably the book’s “Chandar”), while Makwana steps into the role of the free-spirited lawyer “Sudha”.

Although Vikrant Massey and Mahima Makwana played parts in the popular daily soap Balika Vadhu, they never shared screen space together. This will mark their first major joint project.

For the unversed, Musafir Café by Divya Prakash Dubey is a Hindi-novel exploring modern relationships, choices and the idea of carving a space for oneself. Two very different people — Sudha, a principled divorce lawyer who doesn’t believe in marriage, and Chandar, a software engineer with literary dreams — meet via a matrimonial setup and then drift into an unconventional living arrangement.

We reached out to Vikrant, Mahima and the platform but didn't get a response.

Earlier in an interview, Vikran shared how he chooses his scripts. He said, "There are quite a lot of things actually. There are so many permutations and combinations that go behind you choosing a role. But I think that right at the core of it lies the question as to what that story evokes within me... I hate the narrations, I always insist on reading what will be shot eventually. I read it as an audience, if it is evoking what it is ought to, if it’s ought to make me laugh, does it make me laugh, if it’s ought to make me cry, does it make me cry, does it evoke that sense and then comes the other combination which is like have I done this before as an actor? Does this ring a bell with me? Is this a story that I actually want to tell?"

It hasn’t been an easy time for Mahima Makwana; the actress was hospitalized in March after being diagnosed with intussusception (a disorder in which one part of the intestine slides inside an adjacent part).

Talking about her illness, the Antim actress says, “It started with abdominal pain, but I ignored it initially because I was busy with work. When it got unbearable, I got some scans done and that’s when I got diagnosed with intussusception, which is rare in adults.”

She further adds, “I was hospitalised for six days in March and have again been admitted to a hospital three days ago for more tests. Doctors have suggested surgery, but at 24, I am not ready for that. I have been watching what I eat and taking it slow. My health condition has taken a toll on me physically and emotionally.”

Her condition affected her work schedule and Mahima feels bad about that. “I couldn’t be part of promotions for my web show Showtime, and that upset me. Every actor is eager to promote their work, but I had to prioritise my health,” says Mahima, who started her career with TV and acted in shows like Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke and Mariam Khan - Reporting Live.

Ibrahim Ali Khan, actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son, and Sara Ali Khan’s brother, is gearing up to make his Bollywood debut with Sarzameen soon, followed by Naadiniyaan alongside Khushi Kapoor. Now, we have exclusively learnt that Ibrahim has signed a third movie, in which he will be romancing actors Janhvi Kapoor and Mahima Makwana. 

“Ibrahim, Janhvi and Mahima have signed up for a rom-com together. The scripting and casting of the film are done, and other parts of the pre-production stage will be done soon. Shooting is slated to begin next year for the theatrical release,” a source tells us. 

The insider reveals more details about the Shashank Khaitan directorial: “It will be a love triangle featuring these three actors. The plot is like Main Tera Hero (2014) with actors Ileana D’Cruz, Nargis Fakhri and Varun Dhawan. And Ibrahim’s character will have a lisp.”

We contacted the director, but there was no response till the time of going to the press.

Last week, Karan Johar caught the attention of many when Dharmatic Entertainment, his production house’s web wing, announced Showtime. The Disney+ Hotstar offering is touted to be an insider’s look into the entertainment business, examining the practice of nepotism and the struggles of outsiders viewed through the lens of a leading studio. That it is coming from the filmmaker who faced the heat in the nepotism debate makes it all the more intriguing.

While it was announced that Emraan Hashmi will headline the series, mid-day has learnt that the makers have zeroed in on television actor Mahima Makwana for the female lead.

For a studio that has launched many star kids in the recent past, the casting can be viewed as an interesting move to subvert its public perception. A source reveals that Makwana — who has done a string of popular television shows, including Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Adhuri Kahaani Hamari and Mariam Khan: Reporting Live — was brought on board after several rounds of auditions.

“After doing two Telugu movies, she made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khan-starrer Antim: The Final Truth last year. She was one of the many contenders for Showtime, and did multiple screen tests over four months before being finalised. Besides the web series, she has shot for Ashwiny Iyer and Nitesh Tiwari’s next, Bas Karo Aunty,” says the source.

It was a conscious call on the makers’ part to hire a relatively fresh face for the series, given the nature of its story.

If things go as planned, the team will take the project on floors by November. “It will be directed by Mihir Desai, who recently helmed Masoom, and Archit Kumar of Dr Arora fame. The ensemble cast is currently being locked,” adds the source.

The series will be primarily shot in Mumbai, with the first schedule planned as a four-month stint.

Actor Mahima Makwana may be new to the film industry, but she is aware of the dos and don’ts in showbiz. “People like candid and unconventional. They want unfiltered conversations,” she quips.

Makwana got a dream debut in the Salman Khan-led Antim: The Final Truth, however, the actor says, “the real struggle begins now.” She explains, “It is more difficult to be consistent. I don’t want to let people down. I’m scared to fade away. So there’s pressure. But I’m going with the flow.”

That doesn’t mean bagging her debut film was an easy ride. “If I have bagged one film today, people don’t know the 100 films that I’ve been rejected for. There have been people who told me that I won’t make it to the big screen. But you need to trust yourself. I would go crazy if I start listening to people,” says the actor, who has starred in many TV shows.

The 22-year-old may sound like she has figured it all, however, she confesses she is “far from” it. “One mistake that I made throughout my journey was that I was too harsh and hard on myself. Sometimes, it’s okay to have a bad day. I might just take a day off but I will make sure after that day, I speed up,” Makwana introspects, adding, “There were days when I felt like giving up. But I battled those feelings. I never got tired of acting, but when you work on TV, the process can take a toll on you.”

Mahima Makwana’s dream to be in Bollywood has finally come true. The actress, who has worked as a child actor and played lead roles in TV shows, will now be making her Hindi film debut opposite Aayush Sharma in Antim: The Final Truth, also starring Salman Khan. In a conversation with Bombay Times, Mahima talks about her journey from television to Bollywood and landing her first film. Excerpts:

I have always had the desire to try different mediums, and for a long time now, I have made conscious efforts towards it. I have lost count on the number of auditions I gave for film projects. I kept trying and faced numerous rejections. After Shubhaarambh, I auditioned for Antim, and in two days, I was selected for the project. After facing so many rejections, it becomes difficult to believe your ears when you hear a ‘yes’, and that too, from a director like Mahesh Manjrekar and superstar Salman Khan.

I play a strong, independent tea stall owner Manda, who is fierce and independent in a man’s world. When I met Mahesh (Manjrekar) sir, he told me that he wanted a girl who could act and not just be there in the film. He said, ‘I want you to pull off a character that will stand out.’ Though I have few scenes, I have tried my best to prove my mettle. I believe you can prove yourself even with a few scenes. Salman sir has a larger-than-life personality and Mahesh sir has made films like Vaastav, Natsamrat and Astitva, so obviously I was nervous, intimidated and completely obsessed with proving to them that I was the right choice for the film. When I met Salman sir last year on Bigg Boss, I was nervous to say a few lines, but I am happy he has put his faith in me. Mahesh sir gave me the freedom to perform. The character I play stands her ground against Rahulya, played by Ayush Sharma, and motivates him to do the right thing.

Now it is time to keep those thoughts aside because filmmakers are looking at actors as performers and not labelling them. An actor should be known for their work and not the medium they belong to. In the past, few actresses like Radhika Madaan and Mrunal Thakur have crossed the bridge and that is inspiring. To a large extent, web shows have also helped TV actors bridge the gap. Antim has a powerful script and a lot of promise for actors like us. I feel if he has given me Manda, it is my duty to justify that role.

Aayush became a good friend during the shoot of the film. He has put his blood, sweat, heart and soul into the character. Not just his physical transformation, but the way he dedicated himself to the script and role is impressive. Since he became a friend, there was no problem in enacting romantic scenes and Mahesh sir’s support helped us further. After playing a chocolate boy in Loveyatri, he could have easily settled for similar roles, but he has changed himself completely for Antim. He is an actor to watch out for.

I know that in the past two years, people have been watching content at leisure from their homes. So, filmmakers have to work harder to pull crowds to theatres, but we all know that nothing matches the enigma and magic of the 70mm screen. Yes, I am nervous, happy and hoping that audiences will come to theatre and watch my film. It’s a new journey and I have given my best. In future, too, I want to work with such creative individuals on interesting projects.

A song-and-dance routine seemed almost the perfect way for Salman Khan to wrap up his portions in Antim: The Final Truth, after the gruelling schedule of the past two months. Earlier this week, the superstar matched steps with brother-in-law Aayush Sharma as they filmed the situational dance number, Bhai Ka Birthday, at Madh Island.

The Mahesh Manjrekar-directed actioner, which sees Khan as an honest cop to Sharma’s gangster, is an official adaptation of the Marathi hit, Mulshi Pattern (2018). A source from the Antim unit reveals that Bhai Ka Birthday is the Hindi counterpart of Ararara khatarnak that featured in the original.

“It’s a catchy party number that sees a don celebrating his birthday in a grand manner. Since the don has taken Aayush’s character under his wing, the latter attends the celebration. Though the original song didn’t feature the cop, Mahesh decided to include Salman in the proceedings to give it a mass appeal. Mahima Makwana and Pragya Jaiswal also joined the actor duo in the track,” says the source.

The song has been choreographed by Shabina Khan and Mudassar Khan. The latter also designed the Ganpati celebration number, featuring Khan and Varun Dhawan, last month. While it’s a wrap for the superstar, the cast and crew have a few days of patchwork left.

mid-day reached out to Manjrekar, who remained unavailable for comment.