Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 16, 2019)

After playing strong parts in films like Sarbjit, Mary Kom, NH10 and Baaghi 2, actor Darshan Kuumar will be seen playing the antagonist in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan. The film, featuring Farhan Akhtar, revolves around boxing. The actors have spent a considerable amount of time preparing for their roles. Darshan, who plays Maharashtrian boxer Dharmesh Patil in the drama, has been training in the sport for the last two months.

The film’s team had set up a technically-sound boxing facility at a factory, off the Western Express Highway in Mumbai. That’s where Darshan and a couple of other actors would train with the coaches for seven-eight hours every day.

Darshan, on his part, made it a point to watch Mike Tyson’s videos on his way to the training ring and back home, to understand a boxer’s mannerisms and his hand and foot movements inside the ring while defending and attacking. The principal shooting of the film has already begun.