Mrunal Thakur on losing debut actor awards: Not many saw my first film

Mrunal Thakur had quite an unconventional film debut with Love Sonia (2018). However, her portrayal of the brave, determined girl taking on the dark world of human trafficking, earned her critical acclaim at various international film festivals. But, closer home, the Tabrez Noorani directed-film didn’t do well. While Mrunal is happy with all the love she got after the film released on the web, she admits being a “little disappointed”, as well.

The 27-year-old tells us, “I lost all debut actor awards because I guess not many saw my first film. That broke my heart... as actors, we want to reach out to as many people as possible and when that doesn’t happen, it hurts. But everyone has their own journey.”

Talking about Love Sonia, she recalls how many pointed out that she shouldn’t have chosen such a “hard-hitting” project as her debut vehicle, but she was “surprised” because these people also liked her performance. “I was told I should have done a light-hearted, big banner film. The thing is that the story ended on a note of hope. Wherever it was screened — Uzbekistan, Melbourne (Australia) or London (UK) — each person left the theatre with a smile,” she shares.

Mrunal started her acting career with TV and she has followed up her debut with films Super 30 and Batla House (both 2019), besides Karan Johar’s web anthology, Ghost Stories. Up next, she’d be seen in sports dramas, Jersey and Toofan. The actor admits that being an outsider, she never thought she’d get these opportunities so early on in her career. “When Jersey and Toofan came my way, I was quite scared. Both the stories are amazing. I feel liberated and confident to be a part of such stories.”

However, Mrunal is quick to add, “At one point, I did worry about my career, given what I was told, but it’s not the case now.

The success of my last two films changed things. Also,

Karan made me look gorgeous onscreen. Unlike my earlier projects, he gave me this ‘hot girl’ image that left many surprised.”