Priyanshu Painyuli, who has acted in films and shows in the digital space, has been paired with Taapsee Pannu in Rashmi Rocket. The actor plays an army officer, who is also her husband and a sports coach in the drama. “In the line of his duty, my character meets Rashmi, played by Taapsee, in Gujarat and discovers her capabilities as an athlete,” he says, adding, “While the film dwells on their relationship, it also mirrors the lives of women athletes in India. It is not just an entertainment drama with thrills. I was excited to work with Taapsee. She’s one of the most versatile actors we have. I am hugely impressed with her determination to nail the nuances of the role.”

Although the actors had been prepping for their roles since January 2020, they only met on the set of the film for the first time towards the end of the year when the film rolled out in Pune. Priyanshu says, “We could not spend much time on workshops before the shoot. We had prepped, and we were to start shooting before the Coronavirus lockdown last year. Everything was ready, we were all set. I remember that even back then, Taapsee and I didn’t meet because we were both doing different projects. Then, our shoot was pushed ahead due to the lockdown. When we started filming again, I began meeting everyone from the third day of the shoot. When I met Taapsee, her reaction was, ‘Ah! Finally, mil gaye!’ The best part about her is that she is fiercely dedicated, sporty and competitive. She transformed dramatically, and she literally became an athlete for the film.”