Deepika Singh on COLORS’ ‘Mangal Lakshmi’ completing 500 episodes: Many women have come up to me, saying, ‘This is my story’

In a television universe dominated by glammed-up dramas and picture-perfect protagonists, COLORS’ Mangal Lakshmi has carved a niche for itself by being unapologetically real. The slice-of-life saga has struck a powerful emotional chord with audiences across India, and now, it celebrates a remarkable milestone: 500 episodes of heart, grit, and unfiltered truth. At the center of it all is Mangal, brought to life with quiet strength by Deepika Singh — a woman who multitasks like a boss, mothers like a lioness, and stands tall even when the world tries to bend her.

Mangal’s steady climb to the #7 spot on the Ormax Characters India Loves (OCIL) report for May 2025 speaks volumes — audiences are increasingly drawn to characters who feel relatable and real. In a world of glossy perfection, Mangal’s raw honesty and everyday courage have struck a deep chord. And yet, just as she wins this external recognition, Mangal’s world is thrown into chaos, finding herself at a crossroads, where what seems right is complicated.

After her mother Shanti suffers a heart attack, Mangal agrees to marry Kapil, not out of love, but as a desperate compromise to secure her mother’s treatment. But just when things seem to be falling into place, her daughter Ishana pulls the veil off a harsh reality. Her fiancé Kapil raises his hand on her daughter Ishana and in that one brutal moment, everything changes. What was once viewed as Mangal’s fresh start now reeks of doubt with her engagement now hanging by a thread. The woman who rebuilt her life brick by brick after a bitter divorce is suddenly forced to ask herself if a woman can love herself enough to walk away, even from something society calls ‘security’?

Essaying the role of Mangal, Deepika Singh says, “What a blessing it is to have Mangal Lakshmi hit the mark of 500 episodes! Mangal dares to ask the questions that make people uncomfortable in a world where quite a few injustices hide behind norms, and every decision is taken ‘for the good of the family. Why are women always expected to sacrifice? Who decides what’s respectable and what’s rebellious? Sometimes, the questions matter more than the answers — because they break the silence so many of us were raised to keep. Mangal looks at the world with gentle eyes; it doesn’t matter what others say, she still responds with love. When we focus on giving instead of receiving, and helping others rather than judging them, everything becomes more meaningful, and that’s what I believe Mangal truly is. No woman was ever handed empowerment on a silver platter — and Mangal is no different. She’s not the one who fades into the backdrop. She’s a decision-maker, a disruptor, a game-changer. From confrontations with elders to silent rebellions behind closed doors, she represents every woman who’s been told to adjust, to endure, to stay quiet. And every woman watching her knows exactly how that feels. She also serves as a powerful reminder of how important it is for women to be financially independent, because independence isn’t just emotional, it’s economic too. It doesn’t matter what your father does, what your husband does, or what others are doing for you, what matters is what you are doing for yourself. That’s the kind of agency Mangal stands for. She doesn’t know it all and she is learning on the go. Her journey taps into urgent conversations about marriage, dignity, and choice. Many women have come up to me, saying, ‘This is my story.’ And through this show, I hope more women feel encouraged to write their own destinies on their own terms.”

Watch ‘Mangal Lakshmi’ every Monday to Friday at 9:00 PM only on COLORS.