Mrunal Thakur says ‘tricky’ to balance audience love and expectations post Sita Ramam: ‘Didn’t sign Telugu film for a long time because of that’

When asked if the pressure to hold on to the audiences love and deal with their expectations is tricky today, the actor told Indianexpress.com, “Yes it is tricky. There was a time when for a long time I didn’t sign any Telugu film. It was important for me to believe in a character and a story.”

Mrunal Thakur said it was only after almost a year that she signed her next Telugu film, Hi Nana, opposite actor Nani. “That is because I resonated with the film and believed in it. I want to spend those 100 days excited for something, otherwise what’s the point?”

The actor is currently gearing up for the theatrical release of her comedy Aankh Micholi. The Umesh Shukla directorial also stars Paresh Rawal, Abhimanyu Dassani and Divya Dutta among others.

Mrunal said she has realised after almost a decade in the industry that she wants to “enjoy” her journey. “Of course, there is pressure, but my audience is lovely, and they always also give me a reality check. I read their comments, take their feedback in a positive way and make sure that I don’t do the same mistakes I did earlier. I genuinely want to be better.”

Mrunal Thakur’s first screen outing was the international film Love Sonia, which was followed by appearances in Batla House, Karan Johar’s segment in Ghost Stories, Jersey and Lust Stories 2 among others. But her biggest on-set learning, the actor said, came from Toofaan.

In the Farhan Akhtar headlined sports drama, Mrunal said filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra taught her to trust her instincts as a performer and not be dependent on looking at herself at the monitor after every take.

“I have now started surrendering to the director as I realsied that’s what makes me different in every film. On the sets of Toofan, I had a beautiful learning, when Rakesysh Omprakash Mehra sir asked me, ‘Why are you watching the monitor after the take?’ I said, ‘I was just watching!’ He asked, ‘Do you not trust your hair person, your director, your cinematographer, make-up artiste?’

“That’s when I realised that all he did was ask me a simple question: Did I feel the take? I said no. He said, ‘In that case, always, unapologetically say I need one more take… for love.’ So I have started telling my directors this. It is important to feel the part. If I don’t, I feel I am being unfaithful and cheating on my character,” she added.

Also starring Sharman Joshi, Vijay Raaz and Abhishek Banerjee, Aankh Micholi will release in cinemas on October 27.