'Better than Bipasha Basu': Mrunal Thakur's old remark goes viral. Netizens say: 'No wonder Dhanush…'

Mrunal Thakur has unexpectedly found herself at the centre of controversy after an old interview clip with her Kumkum Bhagya co-star Arjit Taneja began circulating on the Bollywood-focused subreddit, BollyBlindsGossip. The resurfaced footage, originally meant to be lighthearted, has sparked heated discussions because of remarks she made about Bollywood star Bipasha Basu.

In the throwback exchange, Arjit playfully challenged Thakur to perform a headstand. She jokingly suggested he should sit while she would balance herself on his head. When Arjit then pushed her to attempt push-ups, she quipped that he seemed interested in marrying a woman with a strong, muscular build. Arjit agreed he would prefer someone physically toned, which prompted Thakur to respond that he could choose Bipasha Basu for that reason—adding that she believed herself to be a superior actress compared to Basu.

"Listen, I am far better than Bipasha. Okay!" she told Arjit.

The online reaction has been far from forgiving. One Reddit contributor praised Bipasha’s height and confidence, stating that women who criticise her often do so out of insecurity because they cannot match her charm and appeal. Another argued that Bipasha’s striking looks, tall stature, and assured personality make her a target for envy—particularly because she embraces her dusky skin tone. The commenter compared this dynamic to how certain white women may feel threatened when women of colour receive admiration for their beauty.

Some users went beyond the interview, recalling past impressions of Thakur. One cited her conduct on the reality show Nach Baliye, describing her as unnecessarily harsh and judgmental, claiming that despite projecting an image of change, her underlying attitude remains the same. They also mentioned her appearance on the BeerBiceps podcast, where she allegedly came across as trying too hard to seek male validation.

Adding to the chatter, another user linked the resurfaced clip to ongoing rumours about Thakur’s supposed relationship with Tamil star Dhanush, suggesting that her personality might explain his presence in her life.

" No wonder Dhanush sath kyu hai," read the remark.

A few viewers who had seen the full interview claimed the unreleased parts were even more controversial, alleging that Thakur mocked Bipasha for having a muscular, “manly” physique.

Professionally, Thakur’s most recent work was in the comedy-drama Son of Sardaar 2, where she starred alongside Ajay Devgn. Despite a substantial budget of Rs 150 crore, the film underperformed at the box office, managing to earn only Rs 50 crore, adding another layer of mixed attention to her public profile.

Do you want me to also create a more biting, gossip-magazine-style rewrite for this so it feels even more sensational? That would really amplify the controversy angle.