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Shriyam Bhagnani made her lead debut with a rather unconventional biopic titled Sumo Didi. The film is inspired by the life of India’s only female sumo wrestler, Hetal Dave. The actress speaks to us about the untold stories behind the film’s making.
After years of unexpected turns, abandoned projects, and demanding physical preparation, Shriyam Bhagnani found a role that required her to embrace a transformation unlike any other. The actress opens up about her journey with Sumo Didi, the nine-month training process, and why she stays away from misleading advertisements.
The actress, who made her lead-role debut in the sports biopic, had to undergo a significant physical transformation to play her character. But the road to the film was not as straightforward as it might seem. There were projects that fell through, demanding weight changes and moments when she had to trust that things would eventually work out.
The actress sat down with Koimoi for a heartfelt conversation about her journey to be part of the film.
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The Journey To Sumo Didi
Before landing the role, she had to prove that she was physically fit for the part. The makers had noticed her work in City of Dreams, following which she was called in for an audition. The audition itself was unlike a conventional screen test. “For the audition, I was asked to run around on the ground, do some workouts. They probably wanted to see the athleticism in everyone. That went on, and then we were made to wait for 15-20 minutes. Then we did this mirror scene in the film as the audition,” she said after which she was selected.
However, Shriyam later learned that she was not the only one selected. “Much later, the producer said that three girls were selected at that time. All three of us were put into training. And they checked who was capable of the training. They chose me, and I had no idea about this till much later.”
She later learned that three actresses had initially been selected and put through training, with the team assessing who could handle the role’s physical demands. Shriyam, however, had no idea that she was part of this process until much later.
The Nine-Month Training Journey
Playing a sumo wrestler required more than simply looking the part. Having been away from sports for nearly a decade, Shriyam had to retrain herself from scratch. The preparation involved an entire team of professionals, including a gym trainer, a physiotherapist, and a yoga trainer, as well as specialized sumo training under Hetal Dave.
“It was eight to nine hours of training every day. And then there were script readings in between. I had to move out of my house to another area because I couldn’t come back home after all this. The training lasted for almost nine months,” she says.
Hetal Dave, who trained her in judo and sumo wrestling, was closely involved throughout the process. “Every single day, we would meet and train. I would cry after going home because it used to hurt a lot,” she recalled. The effort eventually paid off. When Hetal watched the film for the first time alongside Shriyam, she was moved to tears and particularly happy with how her family dynamics were portrayed.
The film also gave Shriyam an opportunity to understand the cultural significance of sumo wrestling in Japan. During the shoot, the team filmed at a sumo temple, where the sport’s practice is treated as a ritual. She also interacted with international sumo wrestlers who appear in the film.
“I learned that sumo wrestlers are genuinely superstars in Japan. They are really respected. I also learned that they are very healthy. My first shock was that I thought I would have to gain weight, but you actually have to put on a lot of muscle. It’s healthy weight gain,” she explains.
Shriyam’s Tryst With Drastic Body Transformations for Roles
While gaining weight for Sumo Didi was part of the role, it was not the first time Shriyam had been asked to undergo a drastic physical transformation for a project. In fact, two earlier experiences had already shaped her relationship with such demands.
She recalls being cast as the lead in a big-banner film in 2021, for which she was asked to lose 30 kilos. She did so, but the film was shelved just five days before it was supposed to take off. Later, she was cast in another project after auditioning for City of Dreams. After losing weight, she was asked by director Nagesh Kukunoor to gain 10 kilos for the role. She agreed. Another project subsequently required her to gain 15 kilos. She went through with the transformation, only to be dropped a day after the shoot began. By then, she had already gained 25 kilos.
Looking back, however, Shriyam believes these experiences eventually led her to Sumo Didi. “At that point, I was wondering why people weren’t liking me when I was lean and why they were asking me to gain weight. It’s not something you usually hear. But when Sumo Didi came along, I thought this was a lifetime opportunity,” she said.
The film is currently streaming on ZEE5.
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