A resurfaced video from a decade ago showing Mrunal Thakur making comments about Bipasha Basu has ignited a fresh wave of discussion around body image and women in the entertainment industry. In the clip, reportedly from her "Kumkum Bhagya" days, Thakur is heard saying that Bipasha Basu looks "manly with muscles" and that she considers herself "far better" than Basu.
The video, which recently went viral, features Thakur in a light-hearted exchange with her co-star, Arjit Taneja. During the exchange, Thakur jokingly responded to Taneja's challenge to do push-ups by suggesting he might be looking for a strong, muscular woman, and then stated that he should marry Bipasha. She then added the controversial statement, "Listen, I am far better than Bipasha, okay?".
Bipasha Basu seemingly responded to the resurfaced remarks with a cryptic but empowering message on her Instagram story on Wednesday. The actress shared a quote stating, "Strong women lift each other up". Basu added her own thoughts, emphasizing the importance of strength and fitness for women. "Get those muscles beautiful ladies… we should be strong… muscles help you attain good physical and mental health forever! Bust the age old thought process that women should not look strong or be physically strong!". Concluding her post, Basu wrote "love yourself".
Basu's post has been widely interpreted as a direct, yet graceful, response to Thakur's decade-old comments, reinforcing Basu's long-held beliefs about body positivity and the importance of physical strength.
Mrunal Thakur has yet to publicly address the resurfaced video or the comments she made. However, she has often spoken about body positivity and has expressed her desire to normalize all body types.
The controversy has drawn reactions from various personalities, including Orhan Awatramani, also known as Orry, who expressed his surprise and disapproval of Thakur's comments.
Bipasha Basu was last seen in the 2015 film "Alone" and has since taken time away from the film industry to focus on her family life. Mrunal Thakur's recent film, "Son of Sardaar 2," was released on August 1, 2025, and she has several upcoming projects.
