Actor Mrunal Thakur has opened up about the unexpected turns she faced while working on ‘Son of Sardaar 2’, revealing that both casting decisions and key edits to her scenes left her unsettled during the making of the film.

Currently promoting her latest release ‘Dacoit: A Love Story’, Thakur reflected on her experience in an interview with journalist Prema, admitting that what eventually appeared on screen differed significantly from what she had envisioned when she signed on to the project.

Thakur, who played Rabia in the sequel to the 2012 hit, said she was unaware of a major casting choice, one that changed her understanding of her character’s arc. “I didn't know a very senior actor was going to play my husband. Because that just changes my...this is not what I expected from the movie. So, there I failed. Because there was a little bit of trust that was shaken. But you know what, I don't have regrets.”

Casting revelation caught her off-guard

In the film, Chunky Panday appears as Rabia’s estranged husband Danish, something Thakur says she did not know while filming began. The lack of clarity, she suggested, altered her expectations of her role and the dynamic she believed she was portraying.

Despite the surprise and the initial disappointment, Thakur stressed that she continues to maintain cordial relations with the team and holds no ill will.

‘Important’ scenes removed during editing

The 33-year-old further shared that two of her emotionally significant scenes did not make it to the final cut, stripping away what she believes would have added crucial depth to Rabia’s narrative.

She described one such moment involving Roshni, her character’s niece: “I did not know two important scenes of mine would be edited on the table. Like, there's this beautiful scene with Roshni and me… And I pray that every girl gets a mother like you, even if you've not given birth to me.” According to Thakur, the removal of these portions weakened the intended emotional arc.

About ‘Son of Sardaar 2’

Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, the sequel retains Ajay Devgn as Jaswinder ‘Jassi’ Singh Randhawa, with Neeru Bajwa appearing as his wife Dimple. The story follows Jassi and Rabia, both navigating troubled marriages, as they unexpectedly grow close. The ensemble cast includes Ravi Kishan, Deepak Dobriyal, Kubbra Sait and Chunky Panday.

What’s next for Mrunal Thakur?

Following ‘Son of Sardaar 2’, Thakur has appeared in ‘Do Deewane Seher Mein’ and is promoting ‘Dacoit: A Love Story’. She will next be seen in ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ and ‘Pooja Meri Jaan’.

‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, directed by David Dhawan and starring Varun Dhawan alongside Pooja Hegde, attracted attention after its AI-generated first-look poster featuring twin babies triggered debate over its authenticity. The rom-com is scheduled to release on 3 June.