Mona Singh opens up about her sand mafia leader role in ‘Subedaar’: 'full of surprises' and 'little whimsical'

Mona Singh is stepping into a role she says she has never played before. In director Suresh Triveni’s film 'Subedaar,' she plays Babli Didi, a sand mafia leader who keeps Anil Kapoor’s character under constant pressure. Singh says the part pushed her out of her comfort zone, from the look and behavior to the dialect and attitude. She also says the character drives the story and leaves little room for anyone to relax.

Mona Singh as sand mafia leader Babli Didi in ‘Subedaar’

According to OTTplay, Singh recalled how she reacted when Triveni called her with the offer. Her first thought was, "Arey baap re! Yeh kya de diya mujhe?” (Oh my God! What have you given me?) She says she wanted a character with flaws and a real challenge, and Babli Didi delivered that. Singh describes the role as “full of surprises” and "little whimsical,” while also being demanding in ways she did not expect.




Singh says she worked on the dialect and mannerisms needed for a character rooted in India’s heartland. She adds that the role stayed with her even after the shoot. The actor also points to how Babli Didi constantly disrupts the life of Kapoor’s character, Subedaar Ji. “Aur maine Subedaar Ji ko dukhi kar rakha hai puri picture mein” (And I have kept Subedaar Ji troubled throughout the entire film), she says, underlining how much chaos her character brings to the story.

Subedaar’s release date and cast details

‘Subedaar’ stars Anil Kapoor as Subedaar Arjun Maurya and Radhika Madan as Shyama, with Singh as Babli Didi. The cast also includes Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar. Suresh Triveni directs the film, which is produced by Abundantia Entertainment, Opening Image Films, and Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network. The film will premiere worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on March 5, 2026.

For Singh, the pull of Babli Didi came from playing an unapologetically flawed character. She describes the part as both demanding and fun. With a character she says is unpredictable, she hopes audiences see a side of her they have not seen before.

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