For years Anupamaa has held its ground as one of Indian television’s most-watched and emotionally gripping shows. Led by Rupali Ganguly the daily drama has consistently topped the TRP charts and built an enormous fan following. Her portrayal of a homemaker rebuilding her life struck such a strong chord with viewers that many now describe her as the soul of the show. But few fans know that the role wasn’t originally meant for her. Before Rupali stepped in and made Anupamaa iconic the makers had approached another well-known actress Mona Singh. Who was the first choice of Anupamaa? Long before the show became a TRP powerhouse the production team had reached out to Mona Singh with the lead role. However she turned down the offer. This revelation came straight from Mona herself who once shared that she had rejected Anupamaa when it was first pitched to her. At that time Mona had consciously stepped back from mainstream television and was focusing entirely on OTT projects. For her returning to a daily soap was not part of the plan. Why did Mona Singh reject the show? Mona explained that she chooses work that excites her creatively and makes her happy as an artist. She avoids taking up projects simply for visibility or screen presence. When Anupamaa came her way she was in a different phase professionally and decided not to take it up. Her decision wasn’t based on the script but her own career path. As she put it she picks roles that give her creative satisfaction and at that time she wasnt looking at daily soaps at all. What did Mona say about Rupali Ganguly’s performance? Despite declining the role Mona Singh had only praise for Rupali Ganguly. She openly admired her portrayal and said the character felt tailor-made for Rupali. She also congratulated producer Rajan Shahi for crafting a show that connected so deeply with the audience. Mona acknowledged that the show’s success and Rupali’s performance proved that the casting eventually fell into the right place. Mona Singhs professional updates Mona Singh continues to be selective about her work. She recently appeared in Aryan Khan’s debut series The Bad Boys of Bollywood where she played the role of Lakshya’s mother. Her scenes with Bobby Deol also sparked conversations online. She has several upcoming projects lined up including the OTT release Paan Parda Zarda and Ma Ka Sum. Apart from digital work she is also part of Sunny Deol’s high-profile war drama Border 2. Highlights: • Mona Singh was the first actress approached for Anupamaa but she declined the offer.• Rupali Ganguly later took the role and turned it into one of TV’s most-loved characters.• Mona continues to focus on OTT and film projects including Border 2 and upcoming releases.