Mrunal Thakur, currently basking in the success of her latest film Son of Sardaar 2, has recently shared her thoughts on a variety of topics, from her career aspirations to dealing with fame and the concept of "buri nazar" (evil eye). Amidst this, dating rumors with actor Dhanush have been swirling, adding another layer of intrigue to her recent interviews and public appearances.
In a recent conversation with Instant Bollywood, Mrunal expressed her belief in the "nazar" and how it influences her decisions regarding sharing details about her future endeavors. "There are a lot of things I still need to do with my career, a lot of boxes I haven't checked," she stated, explaining her reluctance to discuss upcoming projects openly. "I will talk about those things once I actually do them, because I don't want to jinx it by talking about them. I believe the whole nazar thing, 'boht nazar lagti hai' (evil eye jinxes things)".
Mrunal elaborated on the importance of maintaining personal boundaries, especially when navigating the constant attention that comes with fame. She emphasized the need to "control how much you are telling the world". "One should think before speaking about oneself," she noted, adding, "Sometimes we end up saying the things we want to do or are doing currently, and we jinx it ourselves". She prefers to keep her projects private until they are finalized, rather than constantly sharing updates. "I have a very different personality in that sense, because someone might talk about the number of releases they have next year. I don't want to talk about it; everyone knows what's coming and what's not".
While Mrunal is cautious about her professional life, her personal life has also been a subject of much speculation. The actress has been linked to actor Dhanush after they were spotted together at a party and at the screening of Son of Sardaar 2. A video of Dhanush holding Mrunal's hand at her birthday celebration went viral, further fueling the rumors. Another video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows Mrunal whispering something to Dhanush at the film screening.
According to a report by News18 Showsha, the two are reportedly dating, although neither of them has officially confirmed the relationship. A source told the publication, "Yes, it's true that they are dating. But it's too new and they've no plans of making their relationship official before the public or the media. At the same time, they're unfazed about going out and about and being spotted". The source also added that "Friends are truly rooting for them as they're quite similar and compatible when it comes to their values, choices and thoughts".
Adding another layer to the speculation, it has been noted that Mrunal is following Dhanush's sisters, Karthika Kartik and Vimala Geetha, on Instagram. Furthermore, Dhanush and Mrunal first met at an event down South, after the success of Sita Ramam opened doors for Mrunal in the South film industry.
Dhanush was previously married to Aishwarya Rajinikanth for 18 years before they announced their separation in 2022 and divorced in 2024. They have two sons together.
Despite the constant spotlight and dating rumors, Mrunal remains unbothered by pressure. "People ask me how I deal with it... but I don't feel it," she said. "I am a very positive person, so I don't have to work on it. I don't even feel tense or pressured before a release". She is focused on her work and maintaining a positive outlook, while also being mindful of what she shares with the world.
