In the world of Indian cinema, there are endorsements, and then there is the “Anurag Kashyap stamp of approval.” For an actor, being singled out by the man who redefined indie-noir in India is more than just a compliment—it’s a career pivot. Recently, Kashyap’s buzz around the project Dacoit, and specifically his view of it as a “game changer” for Mrunal Thakur, has set the industry talking.
For a long time, Mrunal Thakur was pigeonholed. Whether it was her television roots or her early film roles, she was often cast as the ethereal, soft-spoken lead or the emotional anchor of a story. While she excelled in those roles, there was always a sense that her full range hadn’t been tapped.
Dacoit appears to be the wrecking ball to that image. By stepping into a world that is likely dusty, violent, and morally complex, Mrunal is moving away from the “Sita Ramam” charm into something far more visceral.
Kashyap’s lens usually focuses on the “unpolished.” When he refers to a film or a performance as a game changer, he’s usually talking about authenticity. For Mrunal, Dacoit represents several shifts.
Moving from high-fashion sets to the rugged terrain of a dacoit drama requires a complete shedding of vanity. Characters in these settings aren’t “good” or “bad”; they are survivors. Kashyap likely sees Mrunal tapping into a survivalist instinct that mainstream scripts rarely allow.
This role signals to other “prestige” filmmakers that Mrunal can carry a gritty, solo-lead or character-driven narrative, moving her into the league of actors like Tabu or Alia Bhatt who balance hits with hard-hitting cinema.
The “game changer” label doesn’t just apply to Mrunal’s career; it applies to how we view female leads in rural action dramas. Historically, dacoit films were male-dominated spaces. By centering a performer like Mrunal in this environment, the film challenges the stereotype of who gets to be “gritty.”
If someone like Kashyap—who is notoriously hard to please and deeply critical of “plastic” acting—is excited, it suggests that Mrunal has delivered a performance that is stripped-back and hauntingly real.
Mrunal Thakur has always had the talent, but Dacoit might be the vehicle that provides the “edge” she’s been missing. In a landscape crowded with repetitive roles, this collaboration and the resulting praise from a maven like Kashyap mark the beginning of Mrunal Thakur 2.0. It’s no longer just about being a “star”; it’s about being a powerhouse. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
