A resurfaced video of Mrunal Thakur making comments about Bipasha Basu has ignited a social media firestorm, drawing criticism and sparking reactions from celebrities like Orry. The clip, taken from Mrunal's early television days on the show "Kumkum Bhagya," shows her in conversation with co-star Arjit Taneja. During the discussion about fitness and ideal partners, Mrunal asks Arjit, "Would you rather marry someone who is more manly with muscles?". When Arjit responds that he prefers a toned physique like Bipasha Basu, Mrunal quips, "Go marry Bipasha then. Listen, I am far better than Bipasha, ok".
The resurfacing of this old video has led to widespread condemnation of Mrunal's remarks, with many social media users accusing her of body-shaming and being a "mean girl". The comments were perceived as insensitive and an unnecessary put-down of another actress. One user commented, "She stands nowhere remotely close to Bipasha". Another wrote, "All my admiration for Mrunal, gone in seconds".
Adding fuel to the fire, social media personality Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, reacted to the clip with a scathing comment. Taking to the comments section of an Instagram post featuring the video, Orry wrote, "LMAO f'ing O wtffff is disss woman smoking," accompanied by several laughing emojis. His remark quickly went viral, amplifying the controversy surrounding Mrunal's statements.
Bipasha Basu seemingly responded to the controversy with a cryptic post on her Instagram Story. The post read, "Strong women lift each other up". Addressing the "muscles" comment, she added, "Get those muscles beautiful ladies, we should be strong. Muscles help you attain good physical and mental health forever! Bust the age-old thought process that women should not look strong or be physically strong". Her message was widely interpreted as a dignified response to Mrunal's comments, promoting female empowerment and body positivity.
Despite the backlash, Mrunal Thakur has not directly addressed the controversy. However, she shared a series of photos on Instagram with the caption "Stop staring!". While some fans praised her boldness, others continued to criticize her for her remarks about Bipasha.
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about body image, respect between women in the entertainment industry, and the impact of resurfaced content on social media. It also highlights the power of social media personalities like Orry to amplify controversies and influence public opinion. While some have defended Mrunal, citing the age of the interview and suggesting her comments were taken out of context, the overwhelming sentiment online has been critical of her remarks.
