Speaking during recent media interactions, the Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna star stopped short of a definitive confirmation or outright denial. Instead, she offered a measured response, clarifying that she has deliberately paused signing new projects for nearly three-quarters of a year to hold out for creative fulfillment, promising that any verified development will come straight from her own social channels.
"I Like How You Assume": The Cryptic Response
Reacting to speculation that she has come aboard as a parallel lead in Atlee's multi-starrer, Thakur responded with a mix of amusement and caution:
“I like how you assume that I am doing Raaka. I haven't signed any film in almost nine months. I'm waiting for a meaningful role to come. Right now, whatever announcement has to happen, it will happen on my social networking sites soon, so that we put a full stop to all these rumours, and then I’d love to talk about it.”
While her remarks do not close the door on ongoing discussions, they confirm that she has not put pen to paper, dampening claims that she had already joined the ongoing motion-capture schedule.
Prioritizing Impact Over Volume
Thakur addressed the deliberate gap in her signing spree, clarifying that stepping back from back-to-back shoots was an intentional choice rather than a lack of market demand:
The 120-Day Commitment: She pointed out that headline projects demand upwards of 100 to 120 days on set, making it essential that the material offers personal creative satisfaction.
Long-Term Legacy: “I just want to enjoy the process. For me, everything is you live and you learn. I want to do work where, even 20 or 30 years down the line, people remember the performance and the story.”
Genre Wishlist: In addition to scouting for scripts for a potential return to Marathi cinema, the actress voiced an appetite for layered romantic family dramas reminiscent of 1990s classics like Hum Saath-Saath Hain and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
Trade Take:
Mrunal Thakur’s refusal to issue an outright denial leaves room for ongoing contract and character discussions, but her emphasis on a nine-month signing hiatus makes it clear that the studio has yet to lock in secondary lead agreements. With Deepika Padukone locked as the primary female lead, Atlee and Allu Arjun's team are keeping casting cards guarded as the film progresses through its heavy VFX and pre-visualization phase.
