Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 29, 2017)

After working with Salman Khan in Sultan (2016), Amit Sadh has been landing projects alongside superstars. He recently shot for the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Sarkar 3 and is now prepping for the sports drama Gold that features Akshay Kumar as hockey legend Balbir Singh. “I am excited to work with Akshay sir since I am a big fan of his work, his dedication and choice of films. I am really excited to collaborate with the entire cast of a beautiful ride called Gold,” says Amit.

The film is based on India’s first Olympic gold win as a free nation in 1948. The actor says he auditioned for the part last year and a month later, got a call from director Reema Kagti. “She loved my audition. I will be playing Raghubir, who is modelled after K D Singh Babu, a legend of his time. I studied in Lucknow and used to go to the K D Babu Stadium to play. I had no idea I would be part of a film on him. Reema has researched and scripted the parts to resemble that era. We didn’t have to do anything apart from looking our part.”

The unit has begun training and Akshay is spearheading the process. “We are training with Yuvraj Walmiki (striker of Indian hockey team) and Australian coach Micheal Nobbs. I have also been doing pilates for core work with Namrata Purohit (pilates instructor), besides a lot of cardio. I have also changed my diet because I need to lose 10 kgs to look like a hockey player; they have a bony structure. We still have about two months for the prep. I have to be a sports man of 1945 and also work on my dialect. Hockey may look like an easy game, but it’s not. I have played football and other games, but this is actually a back bender. The first few days of training were quite exhausting. We have sport physiotherapist Vaibhav Patil taking care of us. It’s fun and taxing at the same time. But it doesn’t break you and only makes you stronger.”