Mrunal Thakur was last seen in the movie Jersey that just got released. The film starred Shahid Kapoor too in the lead, and Mrunal portrayed the leading lady of the film. However, even though the film didn’t do well at the box office, her performance has been getting a lot of appreciation from the critics and netizens.
The actress started off her venture as an actress in the television industry, however, she left the industry after she bagged a role in a movie. But later she revealed how the decision was naive for her back then, and she had to face a lot of struggles with no work in hand.
Talking about her venture, Mrunal Thakur said, “Movies have been my escape. I’d put myself in the shoes of characters & think, ‘If I was Geet from Jab We Met, would I have also run?’ And when I got a phone with a camera, I made it my friend. I’d record myself delivering movie dialogues all day. But the career I was pursuing was the opposite–I was studying to be a dentist. Watching 3 idiots did it for me–I spoke to Dad, ‘I want to act.’ Surprised, he asked, ‘Are you sure?’ But when replied, ‘It’ll make me happy,’ he gave me his blessing.”
Talking about how she auditioned for her first tv role, saying, “I was in college when I started auditioning. It was intimidating; I’d be in rooms where everyone competed for the same role. The thought, ‘Do I have it in me?’ made me question myself. But after months of failed auditions, not giving up paid off–I got my 1st role in a TV serial! It would be telecasted daily at 7.30 pm; my family would excitedly watch me. Dad even flew down to Mumbai to take a photo under my serial’s hoarding.”
However, she left the tv industry after she bagged a role in Love Sonia, but ended up facing a lot of struggles. She said, “I was a hard worker & because of that I got my 1st film—Love Sonia! I thought it was my ticket to Bollywood; I left the TV industry. But I was naive because once the applause stopped, I was jobless. No scripts came my way, & if I’d be called for auditions, I’d get rejected. I was broke. I called Dad & cried, ‘I’m in a crisis.’ But he said, ‘I believe in your talent’,”
However, the film Super 30 changed her life, she said, “His words pushed me to audition for Super 30. I recall, the process took about 11 months! To sustain, I did ads, I didn’t want to borrow from home. At the end, I got a call from the director & to my surprise, he said, ‘Congratulations!’ I screamed with joy; I’d be acting alongside Hrithik Roshan! Super 30 got me recognition & finally people knew who ‘Mrunal Thakur’ was. Then Tooofan happened & now, Jersey! After watching Shahid Kapoor for years, I still can’t believe I’m next to him on screen!”
She then concluded, “Getting here was tough but I hope to inspire girls to follow their dreams. Through my work, I want to bring stories that inspire! And I wish that one day, I share the screen with my idol, Meryl Streep! I often wonder, ‘What if Dad had said no to my plea?’ I wouldn’t have chosen to do what I loved. But he didn’t. He believed in me, & then I believed in me, & that made all the difference,” as quoted by MSN.