'I went to meet him and he asked me, "Are you Maharashtrian?" and I said yes.'
'He said you are absolutely different in Batla House, but when I meet you, there is this freshness about you.'
Just three years after her debut movie Love Sonia, Mrunal Thakur has carved a niche for herself in the film industry.
Her last film, Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra's Toofaan, opposite Farhan Akhtar, got everyone's attention, and the actor is enjoying her time in the spotlight. After a successful OTT run, Toofan will now release on television on October 31, on Zee Cinema.
"The best thing that happened was that the film not just travelled in India but outside as well. I got messages from Kenya, Europe, parts of Asia and Canada, and I was like, 'Oh my God. I did not know the power of OTT'," she tells Rediff.com Contributor PS Aaryan Khanna.
In a short span of time, you have created a space for yourself in Bollywood.
In 2018, I did Love Sonia. It may have been just three-fours years now and may seem like a short span, but the hard work and the preparation was right from 2012.
It may seem like a short span for you but for me, it seems like a lifetime.
Toofaan was supposed to be a theatrical release. Were you upset that the movie was released on OTT?
Not at all. In fact, that time was so crucial that I would not want my family to go to the theatres because it was really risky.
The best thing that happened was that the film not just travelled in India but outside as well.
I got messages from Kenya, Europe, parts of Asia and Canada, and I was like, 'Oh my God. I did not know the power of OTT.'
With one click, it went throughout the world.
Was Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on your list of favourite directors?
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra was like a dream director to work with.
I was always on the lookout for whether I could meet him or have a conversation with him and check if there was anything he had to offer.
Luckily, the timing was such that they were making a movie. I did not know which movie it was.
I went to meet him and he asked me, 'Are you Maharashtrian?' and I said yes.
He went on to say that you are absolutely different in Batla House, but when I meet you, there is this freshness about you.
I told him that I would love to be directed by him.
So he said there was something and that he would keep me posted.
Did you get the part just like that?
That was it. A week or so later, I was auditioning for the role.
It was the best thing that happened to me.
So yeah, one film leads to another and I am really blessed to be a part of Toofaan.
You started off from TV and then moved on to films. Do you feel there is a bias when TV actors go in for a film audition.
Yes. Somewhere or the other, there will always be a little bias .
Have you faced it?
Always. Every actor faces it.
But it is good.
If I wouldn't have had faced it, I wouldn't have reached here and I wouldn't have been giving you an interview today.
I am proud that I started with television.
I am not just part of Bollywood.
I am also doing a Telugu film, I am doing music videos, I am a part of the films which are on OTT as well as in theatres.
As an actor, the only constant thing that should remain is me and my camera.
How difficult is it to shoot in this new normal?
I am used to it.
As long as I am shooting, that is normal.
I am happy.
Yes, provided precautions are taken.
As an actor, I cannot wear a mask always, but people around me have that luxury of wearing a mask.
