MUMBAI, July 1 — Actress Mahima Makwana said unstructured time spent walking around Mussoorie ahead of filming helped her develop her character, Preeti, for the upcoming Netflix drama "Musafir Cafe." The series is scheduled to premiere on the platform on July 24.

Makwana, who arrived at the hill station a few days before the shoot started, described the trip as central to her preparation process, saying it let her connect with the role before a single scene was filmed.

An unplanned rehearsal

Makwana said she explored the town without a fixed itinerary, carrying a backpack and listening to music as she walked through its more frequented tourist areas.
"I took my backpack, put on my earphones, and strolled around. I went to the most touristy spots, walked around, got lost in the beauty of the place, and actually found Preeti," she said.

She added that the town's food became part of the experience, listing momos, chai, tiramisu and parathas among what she sampled during her stay. "Mussoorie is nothing less than magic. It made me feel like I belonged the moment I stepped in. I've always felt that I'm a mountain girl!" Makwana said.

Praise for the writing and cast

Makwana credited the show's writing for shaping her approach to the role, saying the character work across the ensemble stood out to her during production.
"The writing, the soul of the show, makes it so, so special. All three characters are written exceptionally beautifully. I had a wonderful time working with TTT, Vikrant, and my director, Ruchir Arun," she said, referring to production banner Terribly Tiny Tales, co-star Vikrant Massey and director Ruchir Arun.

She said the project left a lasting personal impact, adding that working on "Musafir Cafe" made her "fall in love" with herself.

About the series

"Musafir Cafe" is created and written by Sharanya Rajgopal and directed by Ruchir Arun. The series is a screen adaptation of a novel by author Divya Prakash Dubey.
The cast includes Vikrant Massey, Vedika Pinto, Adil Hussain, Rajeev Siddhartha, Anubha Fatehpuria, Loveleen Mishra and Sadia Siddiqui in supporting roles.
The show is produced by Terribly Tiny Tales in association with Homemade Stories and is set to stream on Netflix starting July 24.

What comes next

Netflix has not released additional promotional material or a trailer for "Musafir Cafe" as of this report. Further cast interviews and marketing are expected in the lead-up to the July 24 premiere.

Sources: IANS wire report, July 1, 2026; statements attributed to Mahima Makwana.