Name: Mrunal Thakur

Profession: Actress, Model

Born: August 1, 1992 (Dhule, Maharashtra, India)

Nationality: Indian

Known for: Kumkum Bhagya, Super 30, Batla House, Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna, Son of Sardaar 2

Biography:

Mrunal Udaysing Thakur, born on August 1, 1992, in Dhule, Maharashtra, has emerged as one of India’s most promising actresses, successfully transitioning from television to become a pan-Indian star. Growing up in a middle-class Marathi family, Mrunal’s journey to stardom is a testament to perseverance and talent.

Her father, Udaysing Bhatesing Thakur, works as an Assistant General Manager at Union Bank of India, while her mother Vandana Thakur is a homemaker. She has an elder sister, Lochan Thakur, who is a professional makeup artist and has worked on many of Mrunal’s films, and a younger brother, Mandar Thakur.

Mrunal’s educational journey took her from St. Joseph’s Convent School in Jalgaon to Vasant Vihar High School in Mumbai, and eventually to Kishinchand Chellaram College, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media but left without graduating to focus on her acting career.

Her acting journey began while she was still in college when she landed her first television role as Gauri Bhosle in the Star Plus series “Mujhse Kuchh Kehti…Yeh Khamoshiyaan” (2012-2013). 

However, it was her role as Bulbul Arora Khanna in Zee TV’s popular soap opera “Kumkum Bhagya” (2014-2016) that made her a household name and earned her the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Determined to transition from television to films, Mrunal made strategic career choices that would define her path. She first ventured into Marathi cinema with films like “Vitti Dandu” and “Hello Nandan” in 2014. 

Her Hindi film debut came with the internationally acclaimed “Love Sonia” (2018), where she portrayed the titular character in a hard-hitting story about human trafficking. Though the film didn’t perform commercially, it showcased her acting prowess and earned her the Best Newcomer Award at the London Indian Film Festival.

The year 2019 proved to be transformative for Mrunal with two major Bollywood releases. She starred opposite Hrithik Roshan in “Super 30,” playing Supriya Singh, the love interest of mathematician Anand Kumar. 

The film was a commercial success and established her as a promising newcomer in Hindi cinema. Later that year, she appeared in “Batla House” alongside John Abraham, further cementing her position in the industry.

During the pandemic period, Mrunal explored diverse platforms and genres, appearing in Netflix’s “Ghost Stories” (2020) and later in films like “Toofaan” (2021) and “Dhamaka” (2021). While these films received mixed responses, they demonstrated her willingness to experiment with different roles and genres.

Mrunal’s career reached new heights with her Telugu cinema debut in “Sita Ramam” (2022) opposite Dulquer Salmaan. Initially hesitant about the language barrier, she embraced the challenge and delivered a performance that resonated with audiences across South India. The film became a sleeper hit, and her portrayal earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu, along with multiple SIIMA Awards.

Building on this success, she continued her South Indian journey with “Hi Nanna” (2023) opposite Nani, which became another commercial success and earned her the IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her ability to seamlessly adapt to different film industries and languages has established her as a true pan-Indian actress.

Awards and Accolades:

Television:

• Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Kumkum Bhagya” (2015)

Film Awards:

• London Indian Film Festival Best Newcomer Award for “Love Sonia” (2018)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for “Sita Ramam” (2023)
• SIIMA Award for Best Actress Critics – Telugu for “Sita Ramam” (2023)
• SIIMA Award for Best Debutant Actress – Telugu for “Sita Ramam” (2023)
• IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Hi Nanna” (2024)
• SIIMA Award for Best Actress Critics – Telugu for “Hi Nanna” (2024)

Other Recognition:

• Ranked 8th in Eastern Eye’s Top 30 under 30 Global Asian Stars List (2021)
• Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Diversity in Cinema Award (2023)
• Gold Awards Rising Star From Indian Television to Film (2019)

Interesting Facts:

• She is a collector of books and has a passion for photography, often creating photo albums during vacations
• The actress was inspired to pursue acting after watching “3 Idiots” in 2009, which motivated her to drop her studies and focus on her career
• She stayed at a brothel to prepare for her role in “Love Sonia” to understand the body language and experiences of the characters she was portraying
• Mrunal rejected Aamir Khan’s offer to star in “Thugs of Hindostan” because she didn’t want to sign a three-film contract with Yash Raj Films
• Her sister Lochan Thakur works as her personal makeup artist for most of her films

Social Media:

• Instagram: @mrunalthakur
• Twitter: @mrunal0801