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Janhvi Kapoor Opens Up About Challenges of Training for 'Mr & Mrs Mahi'
With lots of dedication and hard work, Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor is getting ready to impress people in her new movie "Mr & Mrs Mahi." The film is directed by Sharan Sharma and also stars Rajkummar Rao.
At a promotional event in Delhi, Janhvi discussed the challenging journey she undertook to portray her character, Mahi, a doctor turned cricketer. With the trailer already out, fans are eagerly anticipating the film. Janhvi revealed the intense preparation she underwent, which included rigorous strength training and a demanding fitness routine.
The 27-year-old actor shared, "I wasn't looking my best while shooting this film. When I started preparing, I was promoting 'Good Luck Jerry' and possibly shooting for 'Mili,' and I was about 8-9 kilos heavier. Sharan was stressed and told me I didn't look like a cricketer. He said if I wanted to do this film, I needed to lose weight and start cricket training."
This marked the beginning of a challenging transformation for Janhvi. Her daily routine was packed with physical training, guided by her coach, Abhishek Nair. "My training was intense. My coach said it was more rigorous than what they do with IPL players," Janhvi explained. She also shared that her routine included tough sessions with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players, strength training, conditioning, cardio, and cricket practice for five to six hours every day.
Janhvi's commitment to her role led her to adopt a strict low-carb diet, resulting in noticeable changes in her physique. "I would wake up and practice with KKR players for two hours, then go for strength training and cardio for another hour. If there was a shoot, I would go, then practice for another two hours in the evening. It was almost 5-6 hours of training daily," she said.
Her dedication didn't go unnoticed by her other directors and producers, who were concerned about her weight loss. "I remember going to the 'Bawaal' set, and Nitesh sir said I had become very thin. During 'Devara,' everyone remarked that I looked tired. But now, I'm starting to feel like myself again," Janhvi shared.
The path to transformation was not without obstacles. A behind-the-scenes clip recently released showcases Janhvi's journey. The clip includes insights from the director, Sharan Sharma, the coaches, and Janhvi herself. Sharma explained that Janhvi initially thought the training would be similar to her preparations for 'Gunjan Saxena,' but it was a completely different challenge.
The coaches detailed how Janhvi was taken through a cricket workshop and observed international cricketers. During the training, she suffered ligament injuries on both shoulders, revealing her multidirectional instability (MDI). Despite these setbacks, she persevered and completed her training.
Janhvi candidly admitted to being the "most unathletic person" with no prior knowledge of cricket. She shared a glimpse of her journey on Instagram, expressing gratitude to her trainers. "The two years of training for this film was a huge part of my routine and life. It feels strange looking back at all the different shapes and sizes I went through, but the courage, motivation, and strength I got from my coaches stayed with me. Thank you, Abhishek Nayar and Vikrant Yeligeti, for everything, and sorry for all the days I was irritating."
"Mr & Mrs Mahi" marks Janhvi's second collaboration with director Sharan Sharma, following "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl." The film also reunites her with Rajkummar Rao, after their successful pairing in "Roohi." Backed by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, the film is set to hit theatres on May 31.
- PTC PUNJABI
