The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) scheduled to take place from August 11 to 20 will award the Diversity in Cinema Award to Indian actor Mrunal Thakur. The award will be presented during the annual gala award night on August 11, at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne.

The award recognises the actress, who featured in the historical and romantic drama film Sita Ramam, for “her outstanding performances across diverse roles and languages in the world of Indian cinema." Reacting to the honor, the 31-year-old said that she has always aimed to explore a wide spectrum of characters as an artist.

“This award motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and taking up roles that challenge and inspire me. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and excited for what the future holds in this incredible journey of cinema,” she said. “This recognition reaffirms my belief in the power of storytelling that transcends languages and cultures.”

Thakur's acting career began with the television soap opera Mujhse Kuchh Kehti…Yeh Khamoshiyaan (2012). She gained popularity for her role as “Bulbul” in the popular Zee TV serial Kumkum Bhagya (2014–2016). She is a recipient of the ITA Award for best actress in a supporting role.

Hailing from Maharashtra, Thakur made her film debut with the Marathi film Vitti Dandu, released in 2014. Since then, she has played diverse characters from her portrayal of Sonia in Tabrez Noorani-directed Love Sonia to her performance as Sita Mahalakshmi in her debut Telugu film (Sita Ramam). Thakur has transcended linguistic boundaries and has also featured in movies including, Super 30, Toofan and Jersey.