For weeks now, the entertainment circuit has been abuzz with stories suggesting a budding romance between actress Mrunal Thakur and Tamil superstar Dhanush. Much of the chatter took flight after Dhanush turned up at the premiere of Mrunal’s latest release, Son of Sardaar 2, and a video of their side-hug went viral. Fans immediately waved off speculations—but with social media inflamed, Mrunal has finally spoken out to clear the air.
In a candid interview with Only Kollywood, Mrunal laughed off the rapidly spreading dating rumors. “Dhanush is just a good friend to me,” she said, emphasizing how lighthearted she found the speculation The Indian ExpressThe Economic Times. She disclosed that while she’s aware of the media’s fixation on their supposed pairing, she simply found the idea amusing rather than offensive The Economic Times.
One particular question stood out: why was Dhanush even at the Son of Sardaar 2 screening? Was he invited by her? Not so, according to Mrunal. She clarified that Dhanush’s presence didn’t stem from any personal connection—but rather came at the behest of her co-star and film’s lead, Ajay Devgn. “No one should misunderstand that. It was Ajay Devgn who invited him,” she explained The Indian ExpressThe Economic Times.
Her words strike a confident tone—neither defensive nor dismissive. Instead, she’s upfront: she and Dhanush share nothing more than friendship, and that’s the end of it. This clarification stems from a place of honesty, not offense, and has quickly made waves across social platforms Deccan ChronicleThe Times of India.
Yet, behind the scenes, the rumor mills didn’t stop there. Reports surfaced last week suggesting that a source confirmed Dhanush and Mrunal are dating, though still keeping things under wraps due to the relationship being “too new” The Times of IndiaIndiatimes. Some observed that Mrunal had recently followed Dhanush’s sisters on Instagram, which only ratcheted up speculation about family-level familiarity Indiatimes. But before these whispers could evolve into full-blown narrative, Mrunal took charge of the narrative—and set things straight.
This isn’t the first time she’s shown poise under pressure. Mrunal has navigated transitions from Hindi to Telugu cinema with grace, delivering acclaimed performances in Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna before her Hindi debut Son of Sardaar 2. Now, as more eyes turn to her personal life, she continues to focus on her craft. Upcoming projects include Dacoit: A Love Story and Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, set for release in 2026 GulteThe Economic Times.
Meanwhile, Dhanush—fresh off his finalized divorce last year—has also immersed himself in work. His slate includes the Tamil film Idly Kadai, the romantic Tere Ishk Mein opposite Kriti Sanon, and another project titled D54 directed by Vignesh Raja The Indian ExpressThe Economic Times.
Stepping back, it’s clear that celebrity rumors are part and parcel of the industry—but so too are the moments of clarity. Mrunal’s frank response left little room for misinterpretation. In doing so, she reminded headline writers: not everything is a romance just because it makes a good story.
In essence, here’s what we know now—and she said it first: Mrunal Thakur and Dhanush are not dating. They’re friends. The invite that sparked a thousand tabloids came from Ajay Devgn, not Mrunal. And with her focus firmly on her next roles, any whispers about her personal life are likely to take a backseat—until she says otherwise.
