Mrunal Thakur plays a grey character (or, so it seems) in Dacoit, scheduled to hit the cinemas on April 10. Written and acted by Adivi Sesh, the film is coming from the Annapurna Studios stable. Directed by Shaneil Deo, it is a love story wrapped in action. In this interview, Mrunal talks about doing the promising bilingual.
I really enjoyed playing Saraswati in Dacoit. It is a very difficult character. But the makers shaped it in a way that made it easy to understand. Playing such a challenging role gives me joy. This role gave me a lot of happiness. I always like to experiment and surprise myself. This film gave me that opportunity. I feel like doing films with new emotions. Saraswati is something I haven’t done before. I strongly believe everyone will like this character.
What makes me choose a script is my character's importance. Without Saraswati, the story of Dacoit won't move forward. The characters I have played in my career have taught me a great deal. I have got to live those lives. That's a blessing. I have got to step into different 'lives'. I pray and I hope that I get to do at least one Telugu film every year.
This role marks a departure in my career, a step into a genre I have never explored before. It also gave me the chance to perform my own stunts. I particularly enjoyed the chase sequences and driving scenes. I have always loved being behind the wheel; in fact, I was the first woman in my family to learn how to drive. Bringing that personal passion to an action-heavy film was deeply rewarding. One specific sequence involved me driving an ambulance that didn't even have a functional handbrake. It was risky, certainly, but the adrenaline rush was unmatched.
When I heard the story, I found it very interesting. I was curious about why Saraswati and Hari became dacoits. That is something you must watch on the big screen. This is a different kind of love story. The songs are also very special. ‘Roobaru’ has already become a big hit. There are more songs and all of them will surprise the audience. I really like ‘Kannepettaro.’ The music will be next level.
Working with Adivi Sesh was a great experience. He is a self-made star. He takes care of writing, direction, and every small detail. He is very humble. I request everyone to watch this film for him. This will be one of his best performances. Working with Prakash Raj was also wonderful. And Anurag Kashyap is an amazing director and actor. His role in this film will be very special. Since both of us come from Hindi cinema, learning Telugu together was fun. Supriya Yarlagadda is a very kind producer. Once I had a fever, and she postponed the shoot for two days. I have never seen such care before.
Director Shaneil Deo is fantastic. The film will look visually stunning. The teamwork between the director, editor, and cinematographer is excellent. It will have a Hollywood-style feel. Every department has done an amazing job. The teaser and trailer already got a great response. This film will definitely surprise everyone.
With films like Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna, and The Family Star, Telugu audiences accepted me as one of their own. I can never forget their love. They trust me to choose good roles. My role in Sita Ramam was very different from this. Those who want to see me in a new way will definitely be surprised. Shooting this film in both Hindi and Telugu was more challenging than my earlier straight Telugu films.
