21 December,2015 01:17 PM IST | | The Hitlist Team
Teen boxer Ritika Singh was chosen from amongst 100 athletes for the lead role in Rajkumar Hirani's next 'Saala Khadoos'
Ritika Singh with R Madhavan. Inset: Rajkumar Hirani
R Madhavan, who will be seen next in Rajkumar Hirani's 'Saala Khadoos', recently remarked that the toughest part for the makers was finding a female boxer who could act too.
Ritika Singh with R Madhavan
Now how tough was it exactly? Sources close to the project say 18-year-old Ritika Singh was shortlisted after the casting team had a ringside view of 700-odd duels and had auditioned nearly 100 athletes.
Video: Watch R Madhavan and Ritika Singh in 'Saala Khadoos' trailer
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Says a source, "Hirani chose a national level boxer over an actress to play the lead role. He felt the fights required stamina and intensity, and only a real boxer could make them look real. So, the entire team set out on a hunt for one. They auditioned over 100 boxers and attended over 700 boxing matches all over the country, before they finalised the female lead."
Rajkumar Hirani
The auditions spanned a couple of months and the makers found Ritika perfect for the role. The national-level kickboxer holds a black belt in karate and is also trained in mixed martial arts. Madhavan will be seen as her coach - a taskmaster.
Also read: Ritika gets 'immense appreciation' over 'Saala Khadoos' trailer
Hirani, at a recent media interaction, had admitted that he was apprehensive about casting a boxer as the lead heroine, adding that he has taken a "chance".
