Life in the spotlight may look glamorous but for many actors, it comes with constant judgment. Actress Mrunal Thakur knows this all too well.
Over the years, she has faced harsh trolling over her weight and pear-shaped body. What started as casual criticism slowly turned into intense bullying online and offline. The negativity affected her deeply, shaking her confidence and self-worth.
In a candid conversation, Mrunal Thakur shared that there were nights when the comments hurt so much that she cried herself to sleep. She would wake up with swollen eyes, questioning whether it was all worth it. Building herself back up took immense courage. At times, she felt she didn’t have enough encouragement from those around her, which made the journey even harder.
She recalled feeling judged even in spaces like the gym, where she often compared herself to others and rated herself poorly. But one unexpected moment changed her thinking. A girl once approached her and said she wished she had a body like Mrunal’s. That simple compliment shocked her. While she had been criticising herself, someone else saw her as perfect. That shift in perspective made her realise that self-worth begins from within. If she valued herself, others would too.
For Mrunal Thakur, embracing her curves became a turning point. She acknowledged that Indian women are naturally curvy and that bone structure isn’t something one can drastically change. Instead of chasing unrealistic standards, she chose acceptance. According to her, the day she truly accepted her body was the day people began appreciating it more openly.
The actress, who was recently seen in Do Deewane Seher Mein, also reflected on how body-shaming used to be normalised when she was younger. Casual remarks were brushed off as jokes and she admits she didn’t always understand the impact of such comments back then. Looking back now, she recognises how insensitive that culture was.
Today, she feels stronger, thanks in part to her close group of girlfriends who constantly uplift her. Whether it’s trying on a new outfit or sharing a picture, their excited voice notes and words of praise remind her of her beauty and uniqueness. That support system has made a world of difference.
Actor Akshay Kumar also played a role in shaping her outlook. He once told her that he admired how she embraced herself and ignored triggering voices. His advice was simple – stay true to yourself, but if a role demands physical change, do it professionally, not because of pressure.
Today, Mrunal says she finally understands the famous line from Jab We Met – (main apni favourite hoon), learning to be your own favourite person is the real victory.
