“Who isn’t a Mahendra Singh Dhoni fan,” exclaims Janhvi Kapoor, when we sit down for a chat before the release of Mr & Mrs Mahi. The upcoming drama sees the actor play a doctor, whose husband—essayed by Rajkummar Rao—discovers her potential to be a cricketer. The film’s title is fitting in a country that has legions of Mahendra Singh Dhoni fans, and a timely one at that, considering the buzz that the cricketer might officially retire from the sport soon.

“Don’t say that,” interjects Kapoor, whose admiration and respect for the game has grown manifold in the past two years. “I did intensive physical prep. I’d go to either Bhandup or Powai for net practice. The gym and conditioning workout wrung me out. In the evenings, I would be back for another two hours of practice. I dislocated both my shoulders. If this is what merely two years did to me, I can’t imagine where Thala [Dhoni] is at,” she smiles.

But the hard work paid off. The actor is jubilant that she earned director Sharan Sharma’s nod of approval while filming the climactic match. “We attempted some of Suryakumar Yadav’s shots, and at one point, Sharan said, ‘You got his scoop shot right!’ He doesn’t let you go easy. A compliment from him is a big deal.”

In front of the camera, she had Rao, another artiste she deeply trusts. The two have reunited after Roohi (2021). “I have immense respect for Raj. He is a secure actor who puts what is best for the scene before everything else. From the last time I worked with him to now, I am a lot more confident of what I  have to offer.”

Considering Mr & Mrs Mahi releases days after the 2024 Indian Premier League ends, one might be concerned about cricket fatigue. The current uncertain nature of the Hindi movie market doesn’t help either. How does Kapoor make sense of the change that Bollywood is witnessing?

“I am certainly liberated in some ways. Anything can happen—films that had hopes pinned on them bombed, unexpected hits happened. I’m sure a good film will get its due now more than before. The anything-can-happen scenario has kept us from being overconfident. We’ve made a good film. But we’re neither over-expecting nor defeatists. We have reconciled with the idea that despite whatever the immediate result might be, there will be love in the long run. I’m not worried about instant validation.”