Mrunal Thakur on tackling hate, handling rejection, and achieving happiness
The actor shares some well-founded life lessons and wisdom honed from the diverse roles tucked under her belt.
A fresh face in the new crop of actors, Mrunal Thakur is gaining serious recognition for landing roles of substance. And though her career appears to be spurred on by the wind of the booming OTT industry, the almost-dentist, now actor, credits her success to the iconic Bollywood movies 3 Idiots (2009) and Jab We Met (2007), which influenced her views on life.
“I can never get Jab We Met out of my system, especially when Geet (essayed by Kareena Kapoor Khan) says, 'Ye mere decisions hai (These are my decisions).' Today, I decide for myself, because I know the consequences will be mine. I want to take charge of my life; not sit around and let someone else decide for me,” says the 29-year-old, citing that more people need to become their ‘own favourites’, just like in the movie.
Mrunal claims to have come a long way from her impatient, 17-year-old self who wanted instant success. “I realised I won’t get it immediately... I’ll have to work hard for it, and it will take time, because good things do take time.”
The good things did come, in the form of diverse roles, sprinkled with lessons on patience and life... A debut in Bollywood opposite Hrithik Roshan in Super 30 (2019); the powerful sex-trafficking drama Love Sonia (2018); Batla House (2019); the Farhan Akhtar-starrer Toofan (2021); and Jersey with Shahid Kapoor. “What I learnt from working with sex survivors is that we live in a bubble... We don’t realise how blessed we are to have a good family, friends, a roof to cover our heads...not everyone is as privileged.” Having witnessed how the survivors find joy in small things in life changed Mrunal’s perspective, who now reminds herself every day to be grateful what she has. It’s the kind of wisdom that can take a lifetime to find, but for the young actor, it has become a part of her very existence.
Calling it providence that she is an actor, Mrunal believes her work allows her to create awareness. In fact, she is a strong advocate of using social media to address issues... In a recent Instagram post, she was body-shamed over a kickboxing Reel of herself, but Mrunal was quick to respond. She isn’t doing this just for herself, though; Mrunal is leading by example. “The hateful comments don’t really affect me, but I know that there are so many girls who get body-shamed. So, I put up a Story on Instagram for them...I had to let them know that it doesn’t affect me. All this criticism is only going to make me stronger. I’m going to flaunt my body, irrespective.”
Feisty, but “not a feminist” (in her own words), the Marathi actor states she wants to live in a world where things are equal for men and women alike. That’s not to say that Mrunal wants things easy, or on a silver platter. In fact, she learnt an early but important lesson on rejection. “Although rejection isn’t taught in school and colleges, I think we all need to deal with it. Rejection not only makes us better people, but also better in our craft—we push ourselves.” In her personal life, Mrunal is clear that if she is rejected, it is for a reason, because “something better is along it’s way."
Mrunal’s ‘something better’ this year has been her film Aankh Micholi, which released in May 2022. Either way, the actor has a solid mantra to keep herself happy, aside from a quick run across Mumbai’s Marine Drive or a drive in the prettier parts of the city that never sleeps. “Happiness means making someone else happy, too. When I wake up, I get on a mission to do something special for at least five people, those I love the most,” she signs off jocundly. As Mrunal enters her 30s this August, she is well-prepared for what life is about to send her way.
