Mrunal Thakur’s Old Video Sparks Controversy, Actress Issues Apology

Mrunal Thakur may not have the most impressive success rate at the box office, but she is one of the most-followed actresses in India today. With films like Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna in Telugu, she has made a name for herself and continues to get good opportunities in both Telugu and Hindi cinema. Along with her looks, her way of speaking and charming personality have won her a strong following on social media.

However, just when things were going smoothly, an unexpected controversy brought her into the headlines. Before entering films, Mrunal acted in TV serials. An old video from that time has now gone viral. In the clip, she is seen chatting with a co-star and making remarks about then-Bollywood star Bipasha Basu.

In the video, Mrunal asks her co-actor what kind of girl he would like to marry, and whether he would marry a girl with muscles. When he seems to agree, she responds, “Then go marry Bipasha.” She also adds that she is much prettier than Bipasha. At the time, Mrunal was not a well-known name, so the video went unnoticed. Now, it is all over social media.

Bipasha’s fans have reacted strongly, criticising Mrunal for the comments. Around the same time, Bipasha posted on Instagram saying that strong women should support each other, and that beautiful women should also build muscles to be strong both physically and mentally. Many felt this was a subtle reply to Mrunal’s old remarks.

In the middle of the controversy, Mrunal shared a note on social media apologising for her past words. She wrote that when she was 19, she said many silly things without realising how much her words, even in fun, could hurt. She said her intention was never to body-shame anyone and that it was just playful banter in an interview which went too far. Mrunal added that she now understands how it may have come across and wishes she had chosen her words differently. She also said that with time she has learned to value beauty in every form.

With this apology, the actress has made it clear she regrets her past comments and hopes the matter will end here.