'I am absolutely blessed to be working with the fittest actors.'
Mrunal Thakur has been working with some of the fittest actors in Bollywood.
In Super 30, she worked with Hrithik Roshan followed it up with Batla House with John Abraham, Toofaan with Farhan Akhtar and is all excited for Jersey in which she's paired with Shahid Kapoor.
"If you look at them and the amount of hard work and dedication that they put in, it is incredible," Mrunal tells Rediff Contributor PS Aaryan Khanna.
How have your co-stars inspired you to stay fit?
My playlist only consists of songs from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag or Batla House and Shahid's films (laughs).
If you look at them and the amount of hard work and dedication that they put in, it is incredible.
I am absolutely blessed to be working with the fittest actors. It also allows me to push myself.
Earlier, I'd eat anything, including junk food, but right now I am the opposite.
I may not be skinny, but I feel I am the fittest (that I've ever been).
What's your daily workout like?
My trainer Rohit makes sure that I do different sorts of workouts.
We do bits of kickboxing, functional training, cardio, and strength training as well.
He is also introducing me to Jujutsu. It is very difficult because you need crazy amounts of stamina and endurance for stuff like that. But I am really excited to explore that side of me as well.
Are you preparing yourself for an action film?
You never know in the future, through the characters that a play, there are times that I have to be (ready) and learn everything.
I am happy that including all these forms in my workouts are not just allowing me to stay fit, but I never get bored of my workouts. I really look up to my workout.
Don't you crave for a cheat meal?
Always. I feel I earn it.
So, what's your favourite cheat meal?
For me, the cheat meal that I have is something that my mother cooks. So say, ghar ka khana, kheer or basundi.
However, during Diwali, I was saving up for the chaklis and laddoos.
Among female actors, who inspires you?
First is Freida Pinto. I love her. I love how secure she is, and how she will always push me ahead and tell me what is appropriate.
She helped me during the press junkets (of Love Sonia) because I used to get really scared of facing journalists and I was really horrible at answering questions, even though I knew the answers.
I couldn't speak. I had that fear.
I also like Priyanka Chopra's confidence. I like her growth.
And finally, Kareena Kapoor. I love how she never stops.
She makes sure she is working round the clock. During both her pregnancies she was always working.
What is the best and worst part of being a celebrity?
The good part about being a celebrity is that you always get so much attention. Nothing bad yet, because I love my job.
I am really enjoying this phase that I am going through. I think earlier I was just surviving, and now I am living my life.