India, Feb. 27 -- In the history of Indian television, very few occupy the distinctive space that actor Mona Singh does.

She entered the scene with the Hindi television show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi (2003-06), an adaptation of the wildly popular Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty, la fea (1999-2001), hidden behind thick glasses, braces and unflattering outfits.

Playing the defiantly unglamorous Jassi, Singh took on the role of a character who used grit, wit and grace to navigate the unforgiving fashion industry - mirroring her own instinctive command over her craft.

The network eventually went on to pull off one of the biggest promotional coups of all time by withholding Jassi's real persona from the public eye until much later, a move that...