Exclusive: Jennifer Winget Talks About ‘Code M’ Season 2, Playing Strong Female Characters, Her Divorce And More

Exclusive: Jennifer Winget Talks About ‘Code M’ Season 2, Playing Strong Female Characters, Her Divorce And More

Shows about the Armed Forces interest me considering my background (I’m a Navy brat). But shows and films don’t always get it right which makes it not-so-much-fun to watch but some also manage to do it with little to no creative freedom and maintain the authenticity. Having said that, Jennifer Winget, Tanuj Virwani starrer Code M is back with a second season that will premiere on OTT platform Voot Select on June 9. Directed by Akshay Choubey and produced by Juggernaut Productions, the series also stars Swanand Kirkire and Atul Kumar in pivotal roles. Recently, we spoke to the hero of the show, actress Jennifer Winget about preparing for Code M, playing strong female characters, working in OTT as well as her divorce in a candid chat. And the actress gave us some truly unfiltered answers. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what Jennifer had to say.

Q: Did you do anything differently to prepare for your role in Code M Season 2 than Season 1?

Jennifer Winget: I got Covid before shooting season 2. We were about to start shooting the next day and I got to know that I’ve tested positive for Covid. It was very heartbreaking that day but now when I look back at it, I realise I also got a little more time to prepare myself for the role. Although, I had to be at home for 14 days and I didn’t have any symptoms. In fact, I had more energy and I was working out at home. All the prep for Code M season 2, I have done at home because I was in this prison. And because it was season 2 and I had an idea about what the role would require me to do. So, I was a little more mentally and physically prepared to get into playing Monica the second time around.

 

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Q. Over the years, you’ve portrayed several strong female characters. Which one of them is your favourite and why?

Jennifer Winget: Can I give you the cliched answer? They’re all my babies. They’re all me. They’re all a part of me. Every character that I have played has somewhere become a part of me and unless and until I can see the character, I can’t play it. If I can’t convince the audience of the anger or the emotion that I’m showing at that moment, it’s a job not well done for me. So for me, I think all the characters that I’ve played so far have helped me become a better actor because I’ve been fortunate and lucky enough to have been offered different characters in spite of my being on TV. And all of the characters that I’ve got have just added another feather to my cap and I’m very, very thankful for that. So, I can’t pick one.

 

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Q. How has Major Monica Mehra grown in Season 2 of Code M?

Jennifer Winget: If you see season 1, she’s always been a very strong-headed and no-nonsense kind of character. So, for her, this time around, that responsibility increased because, in season 1, she delivered everything that was needed from her and lived up to her commitments. This time there’s more pressure and responsibility. And there are certain incidents from her childhood that have been haunting her. So, this season we delve into her childhood a bit as there are certain traumas that she went through and what happened there and how she’s become the person that she is today. It’s a lot more intense, a lot more deep and a lot more action-packed.

 

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Also Read: ‘Code M’ Season 2 Review: Riveting Crime Drama With Stellar Performances. But Army-Sized Plot Holes Are Hard To Ignore

Q. In this season, Major Monica is dealing with her own personal life and her divorce/separation and we all know how divorce is perceived in our society. And since you’ve been there yourself, what do you think needs to change about our outlook on divorce?

Jennifer Winget: When I went through my separation, that was a few years ago and times were different then and times are different now. So when I was in that situation, everything looked bleak to me. You feel lost and confused. And your life just kind of changes overnight. Now, when I look back at it, I realised that there was a lot of self-discovery that happened during that time. There were so many things that I thought I could never do or that I didn’t have the confidence in myself to do alone. You know, what they say, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. It was a beautiful period of self-discovery.

After that situation happened, I found this strength in me, this confidence in me and it was exhilarating. It felt like I have now come into my own. I started focusing on myself a lot rather than what people think and what people will believe. Also, because I had this amazing support system from my family, and from my friends. There was never a moment when they made me feel that “oh, you know, you should have done that or you should have done this”. And that’s what gave me the strength to become who I am today. I do not regret a single thing that has happened in my past because that has made me who I am today and I am so proud of myself. I am so happy, so free. It’s just amazing. I think I got a new lease on life. When I look back at it and it just maybe I’m a more badass, kickass person.

 

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Q. Have you ever received any feedback or compliments from someone from the Armed Forces? If yes, how has it affected your acting choices?

Jennifer Winget: When people from Army backgrounds come to me and say that we really liked your role, it feels amazing. I’m so happy when someone from that background comes to me and says we get this situation or that we’ve been through something similar. And it’s amazing to talk to someone from an Armed Forces background.

I remember when we were shooting in Pune in the Army area, there was this lady officer. She wanted a picture with me but she was a little hesitant about it, whether she should or she shouldn’t so, I went up to her and told her ‘can you click a picture with me because I need that picture’. It’s so inspiring to see women in uniform because they have to play so many other roles like that of a homemaker, a wife, a mother, a daughter and to add to that to be in the Armed Forces like the Army or Navy or Air Force, the kind of disciples that is required from an office is just next level.

It is so inspiring to see these women do that with a smile on their faces. That innate love for the country, the patriotism is something that only someone in the Armed Forces will know. It takes so much courage and sacrifice to do that with a smile on your face. It’s amazing and very very inspiring. Just being a woman being confident is not enough. It’s her surroundings and her support system that we need to build to give her that confidence and support that she needs to take up a job and just say, “We’ll take care of everything, you do what you got to do, girl”.

 

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Also Read: Exclusive: Tanuj Virwani On ‘Code M’ S2: “Films, Shows Have Been About Men For Far Too Long. It’s Time For Women To Shine”

Q. What kind of roles in the OTT space excite you?

Jennifer Winget: I would like to do something that I’ve not done before because that way I also get to learn a lot. I get to become a better actor and that’s been my quest since I started acting. It is to become better and better. There’s no end to becoming a good actor. When you play different characters and I think the job of an actor is the best job in the world because you get to play with emotions. It’s also therapeutic for you because there are days when you’re not feeling up and about and you have to go and do this happy dance number or something. So, it’s challenging and I love that challenge of exploring emotions and convincing people of a certain emotion that I’m portraying. When people come to me and say “when I was going through a tough time, I saw one scene in Beyhadh that gave me the strength to move on in life”, that’s a job well-done for me. That’s the kind of roles and characters that I look for where I get to learn and I get to relate to people.

 

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Code M season 2 is currently streaming on Voot Select. In case, you want to know more about the show, you read our review here.

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Janvi Manchanda

​​She uses her pen to slice through patriarchy. She could be Geet one day, Wednesday Addams next. Writing is the bane of her existence and the object of all her desires!

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