She stole our hearts as the little girl who would come on comedy TV shows and make us laugh

Kabir Singh Bhandari

Saloni Daini, who captured our imagination as the 8-year-old rib tickling wonder in Comedy Circus Mahasangram alongside Kapil Sharma and Krushna Abhishek, is all grown up now and coming in a web series called Medical Dreams. She opens up to us about how she started off at such a young age, her weight loss journey, working with Shah Rukh Khan, Kapil Sharma and more. Excerpts:

Q. How did Comedy Circus Mahasangram happen?

A. Comedy Circus happened after Chhote Miyan and Chhote Miyan Bade Miyan. It was a completely different experience for me because I was the only kid there. Everyone else was a big comedian like Kapil Sharma, Krushna Abhishek, and others. But I genuinely loved it and got to learn so much from them. I ended up doing seven seasons of Comedy Circus before taking a break from acting and comedy to focus on my studies.

Q. And Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?

A. That happened before my foray in the TV industry. It was a promo shoot with Shah Rukh Sir, and it was my first time on television. I still remember how my entire family and even my neighbors, hopped into a car and drove from Pune to Mumbai just for that one evening shoot. I also remember the dialogue he had with me and there was a moment where he had to kiss my hand. That’s still one of the most special memories I have with Shah Rukh Sir.

Q. What prompted your weight loss journey?

A. I’ve always been a chubby kid and a big time foodie. Food will always be my first love. But during the lockdown, I hit my highest weight—83 kgs. I started having some health issues, and I just didn’t like how limited I felt. I couldn’t play sports or do a lot of things I enjoyed, that really bothered me.

There was this one moment during lockdown where I was just sitting and talking to myself, and I decided this is it. It’s time to lose weight. In a way, lockdown actually helped me with my weight loss journey because I couldn’t go out and eat junk. I was stuck at home for 3-4 months, and during that time, I focused on my health and worked out consistently. That’s how my fitness journey started.

Q. Tell us about Medical Dreams and your role in it

A. Medical Dreams is all about students preparing for their NEET exams who move to Kota to chase their goals. It’s not just about the ones who have everything figured out, it’s also about those who are confused and trying to find their way. 

I play the character of Saroj, who knows exactly what she wants - go to Kota, pursue medicine, and become a doctor. She has no interest in getting married or staying in her village. But her parents say no and crush her dream. 

(To read the full interview you can go to the FPJ website)