Shriyam Bhagnani Opens Up on Sumo Didi Preparation and Stunts

Actor Shriyam Bhagnani stepped into her first leading role in a women-led sports biopic by portraying Hetal Dave, India's first female sumo wrestler, in the film Sumo Didi. Taking on the project required a massive physical transformation and intense preparation to accurately bring a living sports personality to the screen.

Bhagnani spent nine months undergoing rigorous daily training sessions lasting seven to eight hours. Her routine included weight training, yoga, physiotherapy, and specialized practice in sumo and judo. According to the actor, every physical feat shown in the movie—including pushing a truck—was executed by her without the use of artificial intelligence or digital editing.

The actor also discussed how her physical appearance impacted how people treated her during the journey. While she was not initially worried about being stereotyped, she noticed that individuals behaved differently toward her after she gained weight for the part.

Directed by Jayant Rohatgi, Sumo Didi centers on Dave's determination to succeed in sumo wrestling despite coming from a conservative Marwari family and facing societal expectations and body-shaming. Despite a long wait for its release, the film gained recognition through festival screenings before reaching broader audiences.