For me, it was a do or die situation: Mrunal Thakur

An actor from television would give an arm and a leg to get a powerful big-screen debut like Tabrez Noorani’s Love Sonia. Mrunal Thakur, who was erstwhile best known for Kumkum Bhagya and on the tube and Vitti Dandu (2014) in Marathi cinema, got just that. She was soon seen in prestigious projects like Super 30 with Hrithik Roshan and Batla House opposite John Abraham back-to-back. However, after her acclaimed maiden movie, both the flicks saw her in miniscule roles. Point this out to Mrunal, and she reasons, “To get meaty roles, you have to work hard and that’s what I am doing. My intention was to learn something from these projects. I did not want to sit idle.

Whatever comes my way and excites me, I take it up.” While she considers herself lucky to have done the international movie, she points out, “Films like Love Sonia are not made every day. So, it will take me time to reach that level. What matters to me is that my roles are getting appreciated and I am sure I will get better roles.” 

Excerpts from a chat with Mrunal...

What are your thoughts post the release of your latest outing, Batla House?

I’m extremely happy that viewers are liking the film. People have said it is different from Super 30.

All your three releases so far have been different from each other. Was that deliberate?

It wasn’t a conscious decision. I am just going with the flow and whether my role has more screen space or less, I just give my 100 per cent.

Coming from television and regional films, what was the transition in mainstream Bollywood like?

On TV, it actually gets easy because you play the same character over two-three years. In films, it becomes difficult as you have to impress audiences with different characters and whatever screen space you get. For me, it was a do or die situation. The transition was difficult but not impossible. I have to thank filmmakers who are taking chances with TV actors and there is no stereotype. Now, they just cast the actor and the medium doesn’t matter.

Does it feel surreal to have bagged such plum projects back to back?

This journey has taken me seven years. It’s not been quick and every single day, I’ve dreamt of this. I had already shot for Love Sonia and Super 30 but their release was delayed. And that’s why all these three films have come out in such a short period of time.

Going forward, what kind of roles do you look forward to essaying?

I just make sure whatever roles I do, I have to be convinced completely. The main agenda is to do different roles and not be repetitive.

What are you working on currently?

I am working on a web series called Baahubali: Before the Beginning and this will be my foray into the digital platform.