Mrunal Thakur: Playing a cop has been on my checklist

Aditya Roy Kapur and Mrunal Thakur

Earlier this year, the Hindi remake of Tamil hit Thadam (2019) went through casting changes as Sidharth Malhotra bowed out of the project and Aditya Roy Kapur stepped in as the lead. But the one actor who has remained attached with the project through the past year is Mrunal Thakur. The actor will play a fiery cop in the actioner that revolves around two lookalikes who are the primary suspects in a murder case.

A still from Thadam

"When I heard the story, I instantly knew that I needed to be a part of this film. My character is intriguing, and playing a cop has been on my checklist. This will be distinct from all the characters I have played till now," enthuses Thakur, who was recently seen in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Toofaan and has a biggie in the upcoming Jersey. What further drew her to the yet-untitled thriller was that it will see her in a face-off with Kapur, unlike many masala films that restrict the leading ladies to playing the protagonist's love interest. The project is of prime importance to Kapur too ­­ - slipping into the part, essayed by Arun Vijay in the original, will mark his first attempt at a double role.

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The two lockdowns have created havoc in stars' date diaries, and Thakur is no exception. With the film slated to go on floors in Delhi in October, she will have to juggle it with Raja Krishna Menon's war drama, Pippa. Bhushan Kumar, whose T-Series is bankrolling the remake along with Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, says she was the first choice for the leading lady. "When Murad bhai and I were discussing the cop's character, we instantly thought of Mrunal. She has chosen interesting roles and stood out with her performances." Khetani adds, "We wanted someone who has a soft personality, but can be strong when needed."

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