Prajakta Koli, who began her career as a YouTube creator at 21, says over a decade in the public eye has taught her how to deal with negativity without letting it overpower her. The Mismatched actor shared that she has learned to separate baseless hate from meaningful criticism, and that genuine feedback still plays a vital role in her growth.
Reflecting on her journey, Prajakta said she never had a formal blueprint for becoming a creator or actor. “I didn’t go to film school; everything I know is from learning on the job,” she said, adding that criticism helps her understand whether she’s moving in the right direction. Her relatable sketches on her channel MostlySane made her a household name before she transitioned to acting with Netflix’s Mismatched, Bollywood’s Jugjugg Jeeyo, and later Neeyat and Andhera.
Talking about social media hate, she admitted that years of exposure have made her resilient. “I’m 32 now. My most formative years have played out in front of my audience. They’ve seen me grow, fail, try again and I trust them completely,” she said, acknowledging that her audience gives her courage to experiment.
Stepping onto sets with big stars still makes her nervous, but she chooses to see it as an opportunity rather than a limitation. “I can either stay scared or learn from them. Every project becomes a stepping stone,” she added.
Prajakta will next be seen in Netflix’s comedy-drama Single Papa, alongside Kunal Kemmu, Manoj Pahwa and Ayesha Raza. Directed by Shashank Khaitan, Hitesh Kewalya and Neeraj Udhwani, the series follows Gaurav Gehlot, a lovable but immature divorcee who shocks his family by deciding to adopt a baby, leading to a chaotic and heartfelt journey into single parenthood.
