Varun Dhawan takes time off Street Dancer 3D's rehearsals to discuss the toil required for him to match professional dancers
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; January 8, 2020)

A ketogenic diet prevents one from consuming carbohydrate-rich foods — think about a meal plan that eliminates rice, wheat, breads, and sugar. Intermediate fasting is an eating pattern that requires one to avoid eating for 16 hours straight, permitting food consumption only in the remaining eight-hour window. Individually, both the dietary methods demand a fair amount of mental dedication from an individual willing to give them a try. Imagine our surprise then when Varun Dhawan tells us he's following both, simultaneously.

"But they eat everything, ya! Even rice," he complains childishly, referring to the 20-odd dancers — including Dharmesh Yelande and Salman Yusuff Khan — rehearsing for Street Dancer 3D in a studio, a few feet from us. We've pulled Dhawan out from his practice to ask him how he blends in with dancers who've been practising the art for years. "Since I am not a professional dancer, training with those who are is certainly difficult. While training for our last film, ABCD 2, Shraddha [Kapoor, co-star] and I were given a little extra hand-holding. But, for this film, from day one, we were not given [additional attention]. We were told to rehearse with the team, so that the speed at which we pick up steps improves. Given that we're doing street hip-hop, and new school, the movements are fast [paced]. So learning them fast is [crucial]."

During the shoot schedule that concluded weeks before this interaction, Dhawan says he would couple his dance training and shooting stints with a workout. "There's enough cardiovascular [work] happening through dance, so in the gym, I'd train with weights for 60 to 90 minutes. I've increased the amount of physical training I'm doing, and have specifically started targetting my quadriceps. People who dance need a lot of strength in the leg muscles, so doing that is important," says the actor, who features alongside revered dance groups from across the globe in the third edition of Remo D'Souza's franchise. "Rahul Shetty has choreographed the 10 songs in the film, and groups like [V] Unbeatable and Wild Ripperz [are being featured]. There are troupes from the UK, US, and Germany. I have to say, India's right there among the dancers. We are leading the revolution."

For several months leading up to this meeting in July 2019, Dhawan had been clocking in seven hours a day at dance rehearsals, waking up to messages in the dance troupe's WhatsApp group as they'd decide the day's schedule. "Living this active lifestyle, I feel like I've become five years younger. I'm 32, so doing this is not easy. But, I also have a lot of energy which finds an outlet through a film like this one."

As excited as he is for the new version of Bezubaan that will feature in this edition, Dhawan was also delighted to feature alongside Prabhudheva in Muqabla. So eager was he to share the space with him, that his energetic moves landed him with a tear in his hip flexor. While pulling off another high-octane stunt for the film in London, he also injured his hamstring. "I have to really push myself. Even with injuries, you still have to dance, and return to regular practice. These guys [other dancers] do it all the time. They're making me do a lot of stunts. They call me 'B-Boy Juhu'. I'm training with [calisthenics expert] Kuldeep Shashi [for it], and am doing things I'd never had thought I'd do. There's a stunt in which [I'm thrown] 20 feet in the air, and then they throw a [dancer] from down [towards me]. After Rahul made me do it, I learnt that the original stunt had been performed by a 10-year-old boy. I'm not. That makes a big difference. There's also a massive stunt coming up in the finale. Shraddha too has a lot of stunts."

Actor has kicked off prep for next, which rolls on January 22
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 18, 2019)

Varun Dhawan, whose next, the Remo D’souza-directed dance film, goes on floors by the month-end, has kicked off prep for the part by training in gymnastics with action expert, Kuldeep Shashi, who has previously trained Jacqueline Fernandez and Tiger Shroff. The 31-year-old actor is also learning Bhangra moves from instructors of Remo’s dance troupe. He will also learn dance forms like Urban and Street hiphop.

A source associated with the film reveals, “The film kicks off in Punjab on January 22 and since Varun’s character belongs to the state, the team will begin shooting with a lavish Bhangra number, where he will have to pull off some tough moves. The shoot will then move to London from February 8. Besides this song, Varun is spending a lot of time perfecting gymnastics with his trainer for another sequence which will be shot abroad.”

Apart from training, Varun’s prep for the role also involves a closely-monitored diet. “Initially, he was put on a no-carb diet but soon, the team realised that it wasn’t helping him acquire the physique that is needed for his character in the film. So, his dietary plans have also undergone a change recently,” the source informs, adding that the actor is also training in the gym twice a day.

As Mirror had earlier reported (January 7), Shraddha plays Varun’s leading lady in the film after Katrina Kaif had to step out due to date issues. Dancer-actress Nora Fatehi has also recently come on board and will be seen romancing Varun. Popular Punjabi actress Sonam Bajwa will feature in a dance number. The film also introduces two debutantes—Shakti Mohan and Vartika Jha—besides ABCD regulars Punit Pathak, Dharmesh Yelande and Raghav Juyal. 

Playing an antagonist in Brahmastra, Mouni Roy on how she worked on her speed, agility for her first actioner
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 3, 2018)

That Ayan Mukerji meant business when he said Brahmastra will involve action was made evident when he roped Israeli movement coach Ido Portal - among the most celebrated names in movement culture across the globe - to train his cast. While lead actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt spent a fair share of time learning from Portal earlier this year, mid-day has it that the film's antagonist, Mouni Roy, is leaving no stone unturned to give them tough competition.

Roy, who also learnt from Portal for a brief period, is set to pull off action sequences for reel for the first time. However, it is under the guidance of trainer Kuldeep Shashi that she has been undergoing intense prep for her part. A source close to the production tells mid-day, "As a villain, Mouni is expected to be lithe, agile and fast-footed. She has been training in free-running and gymnastics with Kuldeep since January, and has also been working on her flexibility." While Roy's portions won't involve martial arts, she will pull off hand-to-hand combat sequences, apart from high-octane gymnastic moves like free-wheeling spins, back flips and splits, says the source.

Confirming the news to mid-day, Roy reveals, "We didn't train in a particular form of martial arts, but in routines that can make us equipped to perform all kinds of action. I guess, you could label our training as one that makes me a Jack of all trades."

Playing the role of an antagonist early on in her career doesn't seem like a risk for Roy. "I have been acting for nine years [in television], so it's not that early. Also, I love stories. I like intriguing parts, so, if something excites me, I will do it."