30 September,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ Panchal
Manasi Parekh
Boliye, boliye," is what we kept telling Manasi Parekh, much like her character Priyanka in Netflix's Chumbak, when we sat down for a chat. While the actor has been making waves in Gujarati cinema, it was refreshing to see her in her element in the comedy series that returns with eight new episodes on October 1. Parekh discusses with mid-day how the series tackles contemporary issues in Indian families with humour, why comedy is tougher than serious cinema, and what lies ahead for her production house.
Excerpts from the interview.
Do you feel the audience has been eagerly waiting for the second part of the Chumbak series to drop online?
People are loving my character and the show, and can't wait to watch more. As an artiste, one always wishes that audiences want to watch more of you and the work you do. So it's exciting, especially since the episodes have a lot of twists and turns. I wasn't exactly aware of their release plan, so I think I'm also riding the excitement wave like the audience.
What appealed to you about the world of Chumbak?
I think Aatish Kapadia is a contemporary creator and writer. His characters and the situations he writes are always progressive. My character Priyanka's children are autonomous and independent. They voice their thoughts, their disdain for their mother's constant nagging, and what they want. They are not scared of the repercussions of their honesty. But how does one regulate parenting in the age of social media? How does one make children realise the value of studies when it's so easy to get caught up by fame on social media? These relevant topics are handled in a funny, light, but pertinent way. I credit Aatish bhai for capturing the essence of an Indian family with two growing children.
After winning the National Film Award for Kutch Express in 2024, did you feel people expected you to do more serious roles?
After the National Award win, people normally assume that one has to do serious cinema or serious roles. But doing comedy is more challenging than anything. When Aatish and JD bhai [Jamnadas Majethia, creator] were narrating the character to me, I was like, âOh my God, this is completely different from whatever I've done.' My character has this stream of thoughts that keeps her talking without even realising there's another person in front of her. I'm so glad that I got to play a character like Priyanka.
Do you see your production house going beyond Gujarati cinema?
Parthiv Gohil [husband, co-producer] and I decided to get into Gujarati cinema as producers because it's our mother tongue. The industry had a lot of potential. This was seven years ago. Over the last seven years, after producing six films, we have seen the industry grow exponentially. We also believe that this is the time when boundaries and languages don't matter, only content does. We want to produce more Gujarati films and take them to international markets. But we also want to produce international cinema in English, as we announced at the Venice International Film Festival, so it can reach more people. We are working on some incredible scripts right now in English. We truly believe that this is the right time to set foot in English and other languages apart from Gujarati.
Parekh started out as a singer, not an actor. She was trained in Hindustani classical music and later won âStar Ya Rockstar' in 2011
Manasi Parekh says the Kailash-Mansarovar journey, followed by the Nepal floods, gave her a fresh perspective on life. "We are all held by just a thread, and that thread could snap any minute, any second. I came back an absolutely changed person. I realised that nothing is more important than your close, loved ones"
