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Upala KBR (DNA; May 19, 2016)

It’s becoming something of a habit for Gen Next to pick up a new skill while doing a new film. And so, Shraddha Kapoor is learning to play basketball for the title role as Delhi girl Riya Somani in Chetan Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend adaptation, directed by Mohit Suri. Arjun Kapoor, who plays Madhav Jha, played the sport before and is currently brushing up on his skills.

International stunts and sports director Robert Miller (he has worked on films like Chak De! India, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Mary Kom and most recently, Azhar) has come down from the USA to train Shraddha and Arjun in basketball for the film.

Shraddha adds, “He will oversee our training and assign coaches for us. I’ve just had one class and have already started shooting a few baskets. Arjun has a separate training coach.”

She further shares about her sporty past, “I played basketball in school, but wasn’t very good at it. It was a while ago, so I definitely needed severe brushing up. I just started training, so I have just had a two-hour session, which was very intense and gruelling. I am in a lot of pain right now and suffering from muscle soreness, because I have been totally out of it. I used to play football, basketball, track and field in school.”

While training, she has has had certain dietary restrictions imposed on her. “I have to stay away from aerated drinks, which I consumed within limits. I have to also avoid junk food, which will be very difficult and will instead, be having a lot of energising foods.”