Mrunal Thakur on lessons she learnt from Jab We Met, recalled how Kareena Kapoor's character Geet inspired her: 'If she can do it...'

Long before headlines and controversies, Mrunal Thakur found inspiration in an unexpected place—Imtiaz Ali’s cult romantic drama Jab We Met. The film, and Kareena Kapoor’s spirited portrayal of Geet, left a lasting impression on her, shaping not just her outlook on life but also the choices she made early in her career.

Lessons from Geet

In a 2023 interview with ETimes, Mrunal shared the life lessons she gained from watching Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met and how Kareena Kapoor’s character Geet inspired her. She recalled being motivated by Geet’s solo train journey from Mumbai to Bhatinda, which encouraged her to travel alone from Lokmanya Tilak in Mumbai to Kerala, where her parents lived—a 24-hour trip that she described as safe and enriching, offering the chance to meet many people.

She also highlighted how the film emphasized self-love and personal responsibility, teaching her to prioritize her own happiness, make her own decisions, and not blame others for outcomes.

Mrunal said these lessons were profound and had a lasting impact on her.

Turning Down Projects Early in Her Career

Meanwhile, the actress has recently been in the headlines for the wrong reasons for not so right reasons. An old video interview of the actress has been doing the rounds on social media where she revealed that early in her career, she chose to turn down several major projects, feeling she wasn’t ready.

She believed taking on those films at the time could have led to controversies. Although the projects later became hits and propelled the careers of the female leads, Mrunal felt accepting them back then might have made her lose her sense of self.She further stated that, regardless of whether others around her are working, her own steady efforts are a personal achievement. She stressed that she doesn’t pursue instant fame or recognition, believing that success achieved too quickly often doesn’t last.

Netizens React

Netizens speculated that her comments were directed at Anushka Sharma, referencing Salman Khan’s revelation on Bigg Boss that Mrunal was initially considered for the lead in Sultan before Anushka joined. The remarks received mixed reactions, with some criticizing her for taking subtle digs, while others defended her right to express her viewpoint.