Mrunal Thakur has featured in prominent Bollywood films like Super 30, Batla House, Gumraah, Pippa, but her recent experience with Telugu films Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna changed the lens through which she views her career ahead.

The actress says, “There are a lot of scripts that I have been hearing lately, but Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna have set some really high expectations and benchmarks for me. It has added on to my responsibility. I am not going to disappoint my Telugu audience. They are literally the ones who have accepted me as a Telugu ammayi and I can’t wait to do a crazy, mind-blowing entertainer, and at the same time, a cult film that will strike a chord with the audience.”

Ask Mrunal if she feels that makers from the Telugu film industry have been able to tap into her talent more than Hindi filmmakers, and she explains, “I think my journey has been like climbing a ladder. I keep climbing one step at a time. I am thankful to director Tabrez Noorani, who saw me, identified me in the crowd of girls and gave me an opportunity to be Sonia, in Love Sonia. Also, to director Vikas Bahl who gave me an opportunity to play Supriya in Super 30. I think if you get success in a blink of an eye, you don’t appreciate it as much.”

The actress has stepped up slowly, but she believes that she’s now at a point where she’s being offered strong parts. “I feel happy when filmmakers meet me and say, ‘We want to make a movie with you, but Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna set the benchmark so high that we are going to wait and make sure we write a character for you and then reach out’. It gives me some kind of satisfaction knowing that finally there are roles which are written for me. So, one step at a time, one film at a time. Khaane ke thaali mein ek ek niwala aaram aaram se, zindagi lambi hai. I have a long way to go, and I hope my career is not restricted to just Hindi, Tamil and Telugu but also different languages including Malayalam, Punjabi or even French and Spanish for that matter.”