The lovely Mrunal Thakur walked for Rajesh Pratap Singh at the Lakme Absolute Grand Finale, in a cool pant sari. Hours before the finale, The Telegraph chatted with the soft-spoken actress on walking at the finale, her life goals and more.
What are the ‘grand’ things in your life right now?
I think grand for me is to be able to wake up happy, to be able to have a job, a good and healthy life and a family that looks after me and sets of good friends... three friends who are equivalent to 3,000... to be able to cherish their presence in my life, to be able to do what I really want to and face the camera... that’s literally what I live for and I don’t think there are grander things that could have happened.... Tonight the fact that I am walking for Rajesh Pratap Singh who I have looked up to and such an inspiration who actually introduced me to ikat, loom and the prints that I wasn’t aware about my country. To be able to wear his designs is... (sings Hallelujah).... There is a little surprise that I am doing during the show which you’ll see. People will know why Lakme is Lakme. I like the fact that it’s chic and edgy, and also defines who I am. I don’t have to pretend. I just have to be me.
To be able to walk for him, doing the closing for Lakme Absolute Grand Finale... it’s an iconic moment for me. For the first time in 10 years of my career, my parents are coming to see me walk. It is grand. They are getting styled at home, getting photos done... they are like, ‘Listen it’s a grand moment for us, our daughter is going to be walking the ramp in front of our eyes and we’ll be on the front row cheering her’. This is it. This is grand.
And life and joy...
Something that I manifested 20-22 years ago is happening. To be able to face the camera, meet lovely people I really look up to and set an example for many out there who think they won’t be able to ever make it, this is grand.
What has changed in your life over the last two years?
Everything. I am really happy that I am independent and I am also the first girl child to drive a car in my family, the first one to work in the entertainment industry, to be able to set examples in the family. Being a Maharashtrian, it’s really nice when people meet me and say after Madhuri Dixit, you are a Marathi girl we came across and who is a good actor and a part of good films also. I am happy about the fact that I have got the opportunity to be a part of films that do make a difference some way or the other. As a kid growing up, I felt I was meant for bigger things. I just didn’t know what and today when I have found what I love doing, to be able to be a part of stories and cinema that inspires millions, it’s lovely and I must say it’s the best phase of my life.
What are you most grateful for?
Life, especially after the last few years... I have lost a lot of people I know. To wake up healthy, safe and sound itself is a blessing. Workwise also, I don’t want to be a part of the rat race. If I am unwell, when I face the camera I feel so good that I forget that I have a headache or a sore throat or that I am burning with high fever. I feel grateful for where I am at, to be able to survive and do good in life.
You have a certain innocence on your face. Where do you get it from?
Is it? My parents don’t think so... (laughs)... I think, my parents. I am still a girl from Nashik. When I enter the house, I am my father’s daughter... when I go home, I do all the normal things that people do. I just don’t want to miss this. In the past three-four months I have been acting and working with so many people who are in the industry for the past 25-30 years and I have realised that I want to be me. I don’t want to lose myself for anything in the world.
What is beauty to you?
For me, beauty is to be confident and be able to relate with that and also, I have discovered in these couple of years that beauty is not a comparison. Where we go wrong is when we start comparing ourselves with others. Beauty is that one unique thing about yourself that makes you unique. It could be your eyes or smile or confidence. I have realised that if you feel beautiful from within, you can charm the entire room you are walking into....
Why can’t age be beautiful? Why can’t grace be beautiful? Or, wrinkles? Having said that, I myself don’t know what beautiful means. What is perfect? Has anyone been able to define perfect? No.... We humans don’t want to accept that (no one is perfect). Beauty is to accept who you are, how you are, what you are and just flaunt it.
When did you accept yourself completely?
It took me a lot of time. Today, I am still struggling with a couple of things... when it comes to my body, I just got comfortable in the last six months. It was a sudden change. There was a point when I felt: ‘You know what, this is beautiful’. I have thick thighs and I am proud about it. That’s when I realised Indian outfits make me look the best. So, why should I get into a zone where I don’t feel comfortable and end up wearing something and feel extremely terrible about my body. It’s as if I am not working on it. I am working on my body to stay fit, but there is no goal to look a certain way because every body is different. I feel today I am extremely comfortable with my body, my hair, my skin colour, the way I speak and I still agree that I lack when it comes to vocabulary and I am working on it every day. So, I think it’s a process. Few people will try to make you feel awful about you but when you approach that situation like a learning process, that’s when you start getting comfortable and acceptance comes with experience and age. I wouldn’t say I am old... I have just turned 30, so I entered this new phase.
What are your life goals at the moment?
Personal life wise, I want to make sure that I am a good sister and daughter. Dad was telling me I have done more than he was expecting. That was really sweet. He said we didn’t even expect this, we were expecting you to get married at a certain age and have children and you would visit us once a year during Diwali. Here they are today attending the Lakme finale where their daughter is walking.
Obviously I want to find a partner with whom I can travel the world. Looking for one. I believe in love and it takes time and it will come when it has to. The moment he’ll come, I’ll scold him... what took you so long?! When it comes to my career, I am just going slow. I am going at my own pace. I feel I shouldn’t be part of a film because I have to compete with someone. I should be part of it if I relate to the character. That’s when it will resonate with the audience. I want the film to have a discussion. When budding actors watch my film, they should watch it to study that and not just be entertained. I am hoping to represent India at many levels and want to be really known as a versatile actor. It is a difficult tag and I still have to explore a few genres and languages....
Bengali maybe?
I love Bengali. I have covered north, south, Maharashtra... Bengali and Punjabi are two things that I need to explore and just grow and not get stereotyped.
Picture: Sandip Das