During a promotional event for the film ‘Mr & Mrs Mahi,’ Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor offered a detailed glimpse into the arduous process she underwent to portray her character Mahi, a doctor turned cricketer. The event, held in Delhi on Tuesday, showcased Janhvi’s dedication to her role in this Sharan Sharma directorial, where she stars opposite RajKummar Rao.
The film, already stirring excitement with its recently released trailer, gave fans an early peek into what promises to be a gripping storyline. On this occasion, Janhvi took the opportunity to reveal the sheer intensity of preparation that went into embodying Mahi, recounting the rigorous training and demanding fitness regime that were pivotal to her transformation.
The 27-year-old actress began by sharing the initial challenges she faced. “I wasn’t very radiant while shooting for this film. When I started preparing for this film, I was promoting ‘Good Luck Jerry’. I was possibly shooting for ‘Mili’ and I was about 8-9 kilos heavier. Sharan expressed his concern and mentioned that I didn’t look like a cricketer. He emphasized that if I truly wanted to take on this role, I needed to start losing weight and initiate cricket training,” Janhvi explained.
What followed was a period of intense transformation for Janhvi, characterized by a daily routine packed with physical training under the guidance of her coach, Abhishek Nair.
“My daily routine was very intense,” Janhvi recounted. “At the peak of my training, Abhishek Nair mentioned that the regimen I was undergoing was more intense than what some IPL players experience.” She elaborated on her rigorous schedule, which included punishing sessions in the nets with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players, strength training, conditioning, cardio, and cricket practice that collectively spanned over five to six hours daily.
Such dedication required a significant commitment to a strict low-carb diet, leading to evident changes in her physique. These changes did not go unnoticed by her peers in the film industry. “I used to wake up early and practice in the nets with the KKR players for about two hours. Following this, I headed to Bandra for an hour of strength training, conditioning, and cardio. Then, I’d attend meetings or shoots, and wrap up the day with another two hours of practice at a ground in Bandra,” she said.
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Janhvi further discussed the impact of her training on her appearance, highlighting how some directors and producers were taken aback by her weight loss. “While transitioning through various projects, I remember going to a shoot schedule for ‘Bawaal’ and Nitesh sir remarked on how thin I had become. Similarly, during a brief session for ‘Devara’, people pointed out that I didn’t look as glowing as I used to and appeared tired. This feedback came during the span of this film, but now, I feel like I’ve regained my usual self, albeit the process took an extended duration,” Janhvi shared.
The journey was not devoid of obstacles. In a behind-the-scenes clip released by the film’s makers, viewers get to witness Janhvi’s transformation journey up close. The clip features insights from director Sharan Sharma, the coaches, and Janhvi herself, depicting the evolution of her training. Sharma noted that Janhvi initially presumed the training regimen would be similar to her experience for ‘Gunjan Saxena,’ but soon realized the challenge was entirely different.
The coaches detailed how Janhvi underwent a comprehensive cricket workshop and observed international cricket matches as part of her training. During this period, she experienced ligament injuries in both shoulders, revealing her multidirectional instability (MDI), a condition characterized by excessive movement in multiple directions, advantageous for dancers but challenging for cricketers. Despite these setbacks, Janhvi persisted and completed her training.
In the behind-the-scenes footage, Janhvi openly describes herself as the “most unathletic person” with no prior cricket knowledge.
Sharing snippets of her journey on Instagram, Janhvi expressed heartfelt gratitude to her trainers. “The two years of training that went into this film was a significant part of my routine and life that no one saw. It’s surreal to look back at myself in various phases of fitness and skill levels, but the unwavering faith from my coaches, Abhishek Nayar and Vikrant Yeligeti, provided me with immense courage, motivation, guidance, and strength. Thank you both for everything! I apologize for being difficult on certain days,” she posted.
‘Mr & Mrs Mahi’ represents Janhvi’s second collaboration with director Sharan Sharma, following their work on ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’. The film also marks a reunion with Rajkummar Rao, with whom she previously starred in ‘Roohi’. Backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, ‘Mr & Mrs Mahi’ is scheduled to hit theatres on May 31.
