What's Mrunal Thakur Watching? From 'Anandi Gopal' to 'Shyamchi Aai,' Here Are The Actor's Picks

Mrunal Thakur has evolved into a pan-India star, propelled by standout performances in some of the most beloved Telugu films that expanded her fandom across the country. With Sita Ramam (2022) and Hi Nanna (2023), Thakur rose to wider fame and became a familiar face beyond Hindi cinema.

But for the actor — whose Hindi filmography includes Super 30 (2019), Jersey (2022) and Do Deewane Seher Mein — her cinematic heart lies firmly in Marathi cinema. She lists five of her all-time must-watch Marathi films, along with two Hollywood titles she can’t recommend enough.

Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (1988)

WHY SHE LIKES IT: This is one of Thakur’s favourite films. “I can watch it 1,000 times. It’s iconic,” she says. Calling the actors and their comic timing legendary, she feels it is the kind of comedy that hasn’t been made since. “Comedy is a difficult genre, and one has to watch it to see how icons like Ashok Saraf, Laxmikant Berde, Supriya Pilgaonkar and others pulled it off,” she says.

Anandi Gopal (2019)

WHY SHE LIKES IT: “The film is about Anandi Gopal, one of the earliest Indian female doctors of western medicine [to get a medical degree from the U.S.],” says Thakur. Directed by Sameer Vidwans (Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri), it stars Bhagyashree Milind and Lalit Prabhakar. The film won two National Awards: Best Film on Other Social Issues and Best Production Design.

Godavari (2021)

WHY SHE LIKES IT: Nikhil Mahajan’s Godavari tells the story of a family living on the banks of the river Godavari in Nashik. The film “shows how a man deals with his life after he finds out about an illness, and how he deals with his family. It’s about a dysfunctional family, but it’s really about life itself,” says Thakur. The film won a National Award for Best Direction.

Shyamchi Aai (2023)

WHY SHE LIKES IT: Another National Award-winning Marathi film makes Thakur’s must-watch list. “It is about a universal subject: mothers,” says Thakur. “The way a mother shapes your life and what she does — I could resonate with it.” Based on an autobiography by Sane Guruji and directed by Sujay Dahake, the film stars Om Bhutkar, Gauri Deshpande, Mayur More and Sandeep Pathak.

Shala (2011)

WHY SHE LIKES IT: Directed by Sujay Dahake, Shala says Thakur, “is simply one of the greatest films of all times”. A coming-of-age drama set in 1970s rural India, the film is based on a novel by Milind Bokil. It follows 14-year-old Mukund Joshi and his adolescent friends as they navigate first loves and school life.

(500) Days of Summer (2009) and Sinners (2025)

“Additionally, the two films I want to list are from Hollywood, but I love them!” says Thakur. “There’s (500) Days of Summer, which I have watched endlessly. It’s cute, romantic, and just perfect. Then there’s Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. I love Michael B. Jordan; I think he’s a great performer. He didn’t get his due for a long time. When he won the Oscar, it felt like a personal victory for me.”