Mrunal Thakur dives into action in a saree for Dacoit, calls it toughest genre yet

Mrunal Thakur turned action star with Dacoit, calling it her toughest genre yet as she takes on high-octane stunts for the first time. The actor opened up about stepping out of her comfort zone, performing intense sequences, and discovering a new side to her craft.

In Short

• Mrunal Thakur stars in action thriller dacoit with Adivi Sesh
• The film features realistic stunts including car crashes and ambulance scenes
• Thakur performs challenging action sequences, including diving in a saree

Actor Mrunal Thakur is set to step into the action space with her upcoming film Dacoit, co-starring Adivi Sesh. The film, an action thriller layered with emotion and romance, marks Thakur’s first venture into a genre she said pushed her beyond her comfort zone. In an exclusive interaction with India Today, Thakur spoke about the shift from being perceived largely as the emotional anchor in films to actively participating in high-octane action sequences.

Speaking exclusively with India Today, Mrunal Thakur spoke about stepping into the action genre for the first time with Dacoit.

"Touching the roof, the sky, I must say, because I think this year, for the first time, I’m doing a genre like this. To be able to be behind the wheel, to not just be the anchor or the emotional quotient in the film, but to be a part, not a small part, of the action that’s exciting. This film has a lot of stunts - car crashes, ambulances flying through the air in a very realistic manner, just ramming into the road, and I’m involved in most of it. And it’s my first time,” she said.

Thakur highlighted that the film’s action goes beyond conventional fight sequences. She also recalled one of the more challenging moments during filming. “There were shots where, I don’t know if you’ll see it in the trailer, but I literally had to dive in a saree. To be able to get back to my senses while so much is happening around me in the periphery, it was challenging. But at the same time, it gave me a chance to discover and explore this genre, I think that's something I learnt from Sesh.”

The actor also emphasised the collaborative dynamic she shared with co-actor Sesh, particularly while navigating action scenes for the first time. “Emotion is my strength, and that’s where I found camaraderie with Shesh. We built a bond where I would tell him, “Please feel free to come to me and say, ‘Mrunal, this is not looking good,’ or suggest how I can enhance my performance when it comes to action.”

Drawing a parallel between dance and action, Thakur explained how certain techniques helped her conserve energy while performing demanding sequences.

“There’s actually a trick to it. One thing I learnt while dancing with Varun Dhawan was that when you’re dancing and lip-syncing, you don’t actually sing along because that takes a lot of energy. You just move your lips in a way that saves energy while making the dance look bigger. Similarly, in action, there are certain tricks you have to follow. Shesh really helped me with that, and I’m glad there are roles like this being written for female leads,” she said.

At the same time, Thakur acknowledged the physical intensity of the genre, noting that the experience has given her a deeper respect for actors who regularly perform action roles.

“I have immense respect for actors who work in front of green screens, and even for those holding guns; they’re not lightweight, they’re very heavy. No matter what, whether a ligament is hurt or a bone is broken, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Because eventually, people only see the final product. It’s a very difficult genre, and I honestly hope and pray that more roles like Saraswati are written,” she said.

Dacoit is set to release on 10 April; the film also stars Anurag Kashyap.

- Ends