Shriyam Bhagnani on training for Sumo Didi: ‘Had to achieve wrestler’s strength in 10 months’

A still from the film. Pics/Instagram

Before stepping into the shoes of sumo wrestler Hetal Dave for Sumo Didi, actor Shriyam Bhagnani spent 10 months training with the sportsperson. The actor, who leads the Jayant Rohatgi-directed biopic, told mid-day that Dave taught her the basics of judo and sumo wrestling for the upcoming Zee5 film.

Looking back on the process that began years ago, Bhagnani said that she faced two major challenges - the first being not achieving the skill itself, but doing so in a limited time. "A wrestler spends their life building the strength, muscle, posture, and physicality required for the sport. I had to achieve a version of that in just 10 months," she reflected.

Hetal Dave

The second challenge was more physicality-oriented. The actor said, "We were training for hours every day. Since maintaining my weight was essential for the role, I had to eat even more to compensate for the calories burnt. So, the physical transformation wasn't just about training harder. It was also about making sure I was eating enough to sustain the body I needed for the character."