Indian actress Mrunal Thakur recently found herself in the spotlight after an old video interview from her early TV days resurfaced on social media. In that clip, recorded when she was about 19, a young Mrunal referred to Bipasha Basu as ‘manly with muscles’ and boldly said that she was better than her. The resurfaced video sparked strong backlash online, leading Mrunal to issue a public apology.
In her apology, Mrunal admitted that as a teenager, she didn’t fully understand the impact of her words. She said that she never meant to disrespect or body-shame anyone and it was meant as playful banter which went too far. She expressed regret for how her comments sounded, adding that she wishes she had spoken differently. She further said that over time, she has learned to appreciate that beauty comes in many forms and that maturity has taught her to be more thoughtful.
The controversy also caught the attention of Hina Khan who reacted with empathy and support. Hina wrote that wisdom only comes with time and experience and everyone makes mistakes when they are young. She said that she could relate with Mrunal and had made similar errors earlier in her own life. According to Hina, many people gain exposure before they are mature enough to handle it but with time, people evolve, become kinder and more compassionate.
Hina also praised both Mrunal and Bipasha for their impressive journeys in the film industry. She called both the women fabulous and referred to Bipasha as an icon. She said that she was proud of Mrunal for owning up to a mistake made by her younger self, adding that the person who made that comment no longer exists. Hina urged people to stop turning the issue into a spectacle and instead spread kindness and support toward each other.
The video in question, originally posted on YouTube years ago, was from the time Mrunal was acting in the TV show Kumkum Bhagya. In it, she asked her co-star Arjit Taneja if he wanted to marry a girl with a muscular build. When he said that he liked someone with a toned body like that of Bipasha Basu, Mrunal jokingly responded that he could marry Bipasha but also insisted she was better than Bips.
After the clip resurfaced, Mrunal expressed that she deeply regretted those remarks. She acknowledged that she didn’t realise how much her words could hurt someone and said that while it was meant as casual teasing back then, she now understands why it made people upset.
Both Mrunal and Hina’s responses highlight how much people can grow over time. The situation became a moment of reflection on how the industry and society should treat mistakes made in youth, and a reminder that owning up and learning from them is what truly matters.
