Mrunal Thakur on playing an on-screen mother: My decision to work in a film is not based on my character’s age

Mrunal Thakur has every reason to be ecstatic right now. After all, her most recent film, Jersey (2022), starring Shahid Kapoor, opened to accolades. Jersey may have underwhelmed at the movie office, but leading lady Mrunal Thakur finds the sports drama to be a vital addition to her filmography. While Mrunal's performance was praised, many regarded her decision to play the mother of a seven-year-old in the film as a risky move.

In Jersey, the protagonists start out as starry-eyed college sweethearts, only to end up as a miserable married couple jaded by their unfulfilled dreams. Some actresses may consider playing a mother to a seven-year-old to be a risky decision, but Mrunal says a character's age isn't a deciding factor for her when choosing roles.

“There have been times when actors were cast for their ability to play a role, irrespective of their age. Many have been applauded by the industry for taking up the challenge. My decision to work in a film has not been, and will never be based on my character’s age. It is dependent on [whether] the script resonates with me, or how challenging it would be to play a much younger or older version of myself. Make-up and styling do not help elevate the performances in such cases. Instead, it is how we perfect the mannerisms of a character that is nowhere near our actual age,” said the 29-year old actress.

Furthermore, Mrunal emphasized that aging on screen in a film no longer conflicts with a leading lady's glamorous image. Meanwhile, Mrunal will next be seen in Pippa, a film based on the life of Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta, starring Ishaan Khatter.