'It'll be a short but fun trip': Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur to attend IIFA Awards pre-screening in Dubai

The actor, who's conquered the Indian entertainment industry with her relatable portrayal of a diverse range of characters, be it on film, television or OTT, will soon be making her way to the city to catch a special pre-screening of the IIFA Awards 2023, taking place in Dubai on June 17. The event will mark the global broadcast for the prestigious awards show, all set to take place this Sunday, June 18.

Edited excerpts from an interview:

Q) From television to film, you’ve come a long way in your acting journey. How do you look back at your journey?

I'm etremely grateful. I look back at each leg of my career, and my life and try and be thankful for each phase of my life. I have been fortunate to have experienced so many different things in such a short duration, something that I will always be grateful for. Everything from television to films, to each director I have worked with, has taught me something and I hold onto these valuable lessons.

Q) Your Telegu film Sita Ramam did immensely well and drew in a lot of praise. Did that shift your mindset in terms of the kind of projects you’d like to take on?

I have always tried to be the kind of actor who picks up work that I truly do wish to be a part of. For the story, for the team working on it to the director, I’m getting to work with. Yes as you move ahead, you learn and you apply these lessons. So yes with each milestone I have grown up a bit and yearned for different work. Sita Ramam opened up a whole new world for me, and it gave me a perspective of larger-than-life storytelling. That is what I took from it. And I do hope to be part of more such varied stories, more such varied storytellers.

Q) The boundaries between Hindi movies versus regional cinema are now fading off, making way for Pan-Indian cinema. Would you agree? How do you view this shift?

Yes, there is and rightly so. Why should artists and audiences be divided by language or region? We are a country made up of such diversity and actors shouldn’t know any language barriers, storytelling and acting don’t have a language. It transcends beyond all this. So yes, I feel this thinning of lines and these lines being blurred was a long time coming.

Q) You will soon be sharing screen space with Vijay Deverakonda. Can you tell us more about this upcoming project?

All I can currently say is that I’m excited to be working and collaborating with a whole new team. Even today I get excited to be on a new film set, feels like the first day of school, college or a new workplace. That excitement prevails. Vijay is an immensely talented actor and I hope together, we bring a stellar story and film for the audiences to see.

Q) The television broadcast for the IIFA awards is all set to take place on June 18. What are you most excited about from this year’s show?

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