Conversations around insider-outsider and nepotism are still raging. Though she too doesn’t hail from a film family, but Mrunal Thakur says she never felt out of place. Rather, the Love Sonia (2018) actor is grateful to her mentors for their guidance.

“I never felt like an outsider. When I was about to make my debut on TV, I had a mentor in Ekta Kapoor. Then Karan Johar guided me in films. As an actor, I gave 100%. But of course things are difficult here, or else it’ll be everybody’s cup of tea,” she adds.

But not all were encouraging. “Today the only thing I tell myself is that I’m living this journey because I want to and not because people want me to do something,” she states. Prodded about how she was discouraged, Thakur, 28, cites rejections, more so given that she started as a TV actor. However, she adds she never lost film projects to star kids. “Aisa kabhi nahi hua ki Janhvi (Kapoor), Sara (Ali Khan) or Ananya (Panday) got a film and not me. But there have been rejections. There were times when before my audition I was told, ‘Mrunal why are you wasting your time’? Some said I don’t look the part, some felt I’m not actor material, but never explained why they felt that way. It happened a few times and it did hurt,” says the actor, adding nepotism is everywhere.

She asks if people avoid taking medicines prescribed by a doctor’s son or daughter, who is also a doctor. “Everyone should relax and stop blaming the star kids for everything. Many don’t know how much hard work they put in. I know the stories.” she says. Thakur prefers focussing on work and being part of the right kind of narrative. “I always wanted to do films but it took me eight years for my film debut. So I’m anyway late and just want to work than think about anything else,” she says.