Upasana Singh: My mother was my role model; she never even wore lipstick. – Exclusive

Known affectionately as “Bua” on “The Kapil Sharma Show,” Upasana Singh recounts her incredible journey from making her feature film debut in Marwari cinema to becoming a household figure. She discusses her struggles, experiences, and mother—her greatest mentor—in an exclusive conversation with ETimes.

During her undergraduate years, she made her film debut with the Marwari film “Baai Chali Sasariye.” Upasana expresses her sincere thanks for her life and work as she considers her path.She comes from a Sikh family with no industry ties, yet she attributes her love for acting to her mother’s constant encouragement.

“I am very content with my life and acting career. Since no one in my family worked in the film business, I knew no one when I started out in the field. I come from a Sikh family, and working in the film business used to be frowned upon. But my mom has a degree. She saw my interest in performing. She claimed to be the only one who stood by me.

During her undergraduate years, Upasana made a name for herself as a versatile artist with four successful films to her credit: “Amdavadno Rickshawalo” (Gujarati), “Raamvati” (Hindi), and “Badla Jatti Da” (Punjabi). Her intense training in Kathak dancing and her early experiences as a child performer on Doordarshan Jalandhar gave her a strong sense of confidence in her abilities.

“I felt comfortable in front of the camera since I had experience acting as a youngster on Door Darshan Jalandhar. To be a good dancer, I spent eight years learning Kathak. I am just thankful to God, since I am aware of the struggles my mother had to go through for me to get this far,” the actress said.

Upasana says her mother’s wisdom served as her compass when questioned about her mentor in Bombay. “My role model was my mother, who never wore lipstick. She was a lady of intelligence. I used to believe that my appearance increased with the amount of jewelry, makeup, and flowers in my hair. However, my mother informed me that I seem more attractive without makeup,” Upasana said.
Upasana persevered by relying on her ability and willpower in the face of obstacles and rejections.

She turned down assignments that would have violated her morals and chose character parts over traditional starring roles. Her success came via supporting parts in big-budget movies like “Loafer” (1996), “Judaai,” “Badal,” and “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.” After appearing on “Comedy Nights with Kapil,” she was dubbed a comedy mainstay.

Upasana looks forward to her next endeavors, which include her producing endeavors and her entry into Punjabi film. While her son, Nanak Singh, is gaining success in acting and a number of Punjabi movies are about to hit theaters, Upasana is dedicated to her work and prioritizes her artistic goals above business endeavors.