As a Kashmiri, Vedang Raina had a special moment recently as he went back to his roots at the inaugural edition of the International Film Festival of Jammu And Kashmir, where his film Main Vaapas Aaunga was chosen to close the festival last week.

“I was going back to Kashmir only for the second time in my entire life and that place is very special to me as it is home. I wanted an excuse to go to Srinagar and when this opportunity came, it was the perfect match. To go there with a film of mine, my parents felt the proudest and emotional that I was doing something to give back to the people of where I come from,” he says.

Main Vaapas Aaunga is about leaving your home and everything you have had, and the want to come back home, and the actor insists that feeling resonates with the people in Kashmir more so.

“They have faced very testing incidents be it the Partition, or what happened during the ’90s (with Kashmiri Pandits), while it was different, the emotion of leaving everything behind and then start afresh remains,” he says.

Getting appreciated and accepted from the people of Kashmir felt different for Vedang: “I didn’t even realize what kind of an audience Kashmir has for movies. I know that people there care about art and culture, but it’s through this film festival, I got to learn more about them. Whatever I can do to contribute to the culture of cinema being celebrated there, I wanted to do as it’s long overdue. Kashmir deserves a lot more theatre and connection to cinema, and being able to contribute to that feels special. People in Kashmir feel like family.”

Raving about Kashmir and its beauty and culture, Vedang says, “I just love the landscape. This time, I only got to go to Srinagar, but when you go to Pahalgam and Gulmarg, there's few places in India that are more gorgeous than that. Also the food, this time I had a proper Wazwan in Kashmir, which was amazing. I love Kashmiri food. And I also had the walnut fudge, and that is probably one of my favorite things. I got back home a lot too. Hopefully it'll survive for a while.”

Even though he is Kashmiri, it was actually filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who turned out to be more well versed than him about the place.

“I have a connection with the place but Imatiz Ali sir knows Kashmir way better than I do. He knows even the smallest places there, and when me and Sharvari were thinking of where to go, what to eat, Imtiaz sir knew it all,” he laughs, adding that he hopes to do a film set in Kashmir with Imtiaz. “If there's an opportunity that takes me to Kashmir, and if it's for a film shoot, that's even better. It means I will get to spend so much more time there. If Imtiaz sir writes it, that would be a dream come true. If he decides to cast me in it, I hope that's something that comes to fruition,” he says.

Vedang Raina has been riding high after the success of Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga. The 26-year-old actor has been praised for his strong performance in the romantic drama that revolves around the partition period in 1947. It wasn’t just a film for Raina, but a redemption after Jigra (2024), and an eye-opener in a lot of ways, as he holds the film responsible for changing his perspective on the significance of Independence Day and what it meant for the country back then. Excerpt:

No, I still don’t think it’s the biggest movie of the year. But it’s done its bit and found its audience. I’m very grateful for that. While shooting the only thing I understood at that time was that it’s an honour to be part of a film in which Imtiaz Ali is directing, and to be playing the younger version of Naseeruddin Shah. I think those two things were like the highlight of my journey in this industry.

It wasn’t really like a narration, not in the typical sense. With him, it was like he had certain ideas in his head. It lasted maybe two minutes, and he spoke about the concept of the film. And this is the character I want you to play. And for me, it was the fact that Imtiaz sir was making it. I said, okay, fine. Like, I’m on it. Let me know when we start.

I feel this immense sense of belonging to the country and an immense sense of pride. After Main Vaapas Aaunga, I’ve had a different outlook on what that day meant, how much it means to the people and how important it was in the history of our country. As a kid, I did not get into it that much. But now, I really got in-depth into what that day was like for so many people. And what it stands for now.

Yes, 100%. That was probably the most important thing that I did in pre-production. Sharvari and I went to the partition museum in Amritsar. We spent four hours there. The museum was amazing, but it was those anecdotes from the people. There were 15-20 minute videos of actual people who went through that partition journey. And what that migration was like for them. That experience was really important.

The Radcliffe Line [drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe] that we know of: I didn’t know that Sir Radcliffe hadn’t ever been in India before. He came here for a few weeks, and he was in his hotel room. And he had so much pressure from the higher-ups to make the line between India and Pakistan that he didn’t really get to go talk to the people, understand what it means, what those areas mean, what those people are like in those places. And for them, it was kind of just like a line that they drew. Which sounds so terrible. Lahore was such a big part of Indian culture. It was the heart of India. What we call Madhya Pradesh right now was Lahore because that was kind of central India. It was not the capital, but it was the hub of culture, art, music and movies. What Mumbai is now, the stars of that time used to stay in Lahore and everything used to come from there... And I’m thinking just that line could have changed the lives of maybe 1000s of people.

I must have heard stories about the partition, but also we are from Kashmir. My grandparents were in Kashmir at that time. So, it was different for them. They didn’t experience any migration at that time. Later they did, of course. My nana used to talk about how things were, what Mahatma Gandhi was doing, what Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru ji was doing, and what the political climate was. He is very politically aware. He’s always had very strong opinions on politics.

Yeah, I’d say not as extreme as him. I do have political opinions, and I do have strong opinions.

(Laughs) 100 per cent they will. We’ve seen a little whiff of what social media and something that is an important subject to our country means in recent times, right? And just imagine something like the partition [happening]. Well, there would be one side where Gen Z would be making those reels, but also we are such a strong collective voice now. And not just Gen Z, but all generations. Because of social media, we have a strong, collective voice that cannot be ignored. That is something that we’ve proven.

For Sharvari, the discipline she brings to acting was shaped long before she faced the camera. Before becoming an actress, she worked as an Assistant Director (AD) on three films — an experience that taught her the demands of filmmaking from the ground up and continues to influence the way she approaches her work.

“I’ve always been a very punctual person. Even before I became an actress, I worked as an AD on three films and that taught me the value of time and discipline. I’m actually the kind of person who sets five alarms just to make sure I’m never late!” she says.

That stint behind the scenes also gave her an understanding of how much coordination goes into putting a film together. For Sharvari, being on time is therefore less about personal discipline and more about respecting an entire team.

“I think time is such a valuable thing and being on time is also a way of respecting other people’s time. Especially in our profession, where so many people are involved in making one thing happen, being punctual is basic professionalism,” she adds.

The lessons from those early years have stayed with her as she has moved between diverse roles. This year, she has found herself switching between the adrenaline-fuelled action of Alpha and the warmth, relationships and family emotions of Sooraj Barjatya’s upcoming Yeh Prem Mol Liya.

The actress who we caught up with at the promotional event of Daniel Wellington, shares, “They were very different experiences, but that’s also what made them exciting for me. I think as an actor, you have to be able to switch between completely different worlds and understand what each character needs from you. Both experiences taught me something different, and I’m happy I got to do both.”

If July 2025 saw Ahaan Panday break out in Bollywood with the blockbuster Saiyaara, this July saw the young actor almost completing his second film. mid-day has learnt that last week, director Ali Abbas Zafar called it a wrap on the 60-day United Kingdom schedule of the yet-untitled action drama. In the last leg, the unit filmed a romantic song and some dramatic scenes with Panday and leading lady Sharvari in Birmingham.

Also starring Bobby Deol, Jimmy Shergill, and Aaishvary Thackeray, the film sees Panday portray a gangster.

A source said, “In the past few weeks, they shot three songs. One was a solo track of Ahaan shot at Town Hall in Birmingham. It’s a festive number that sees the lead actor dancing alongside young girls doing the hula hoop. Two romantic songs with Ahaan and Sharvari were also filmed at different locations, including Birmingham, Coventry University, Penrith, and Carlisle. Vijay Ganguly choreographed all three songs.”

The romantic action drama will trace how Panday’s character goes from a young boy to a dreaded gangster. The source added, “Aaishvary plays the antagonist, while Bobby is Ahaan’s mentor who takes him under his wing when he is young.”

Acclaimed lyricist, singer, actor and writer Swanand Kirkire is all set to be a part of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s upcoming romantic family drama Yeh Prem Mol Liya. Headlined by Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari Wagh, the film marks Barjatya’s much-anticipated return to the traditional romance and family storytelling space that he is celebrated for.

While details of Swanand Kirkire’s character are being kept tightly under wraps, sources close to the production reveal that he plays a very interesting and pivotal role in the narrative one that adds emotional weight and texture to the film’s core storyline.

Swanand told us, “Working with Sooraj ji feels like coming home to a certain kind of storytelling that shaped many of us as audiences. His films have always celebrated love not just between two people, but within families, across generations, in quiet gestures and unspoken understanding. When I heard the world of Yeh Prem Mol Liya, I was deeply moved by its emotional simplicity and sincerity. What I love about Sooraj ji’s writing is that even the silences carry meaning. There is dignity, restraint and warmth in the way he builds relationships on screen. As an actor, that is both challenging and fulfilling because you are required to underplay and yet remain emotionally present."

He continues, "Being part of a Rajshri film carries its own legacy. There’s a certain purity and belief in goodness that the banner represents, and to collaborate with a team that values emotional honesty over spectacle is incredibly refreshing. Sharing the screen with Ayushmann and Sharvari has also been a beautiful experience they both bring such individuality and sensitivity to their craft."

With production underway, Yeh Prem Mol Liya is shaping up to be one of the most awaited romantic family dramas of 2026, blending nostalgia with contemporary emotion under Sooraj Barjatya’s lens.

Sharvari’s love for photography, which began years ago with an old-school broken camera that needed a film roll, has now blossomed into a full-fledged passion.

She remembers, “My friend’s mom had a camera that wasn’t working. We somehow fixed it, and she let us use it. With that camera, you couldn’t take 10 photos and decide later. You were in the moment completely. I would click pictures and then develop the film. The process felt exciting and magical.”

Later, a second-hand Nikon FM10 from a Churchgate store became her loyal travel companion.

“The light meter, loading the roll, everything felt like entering a whole new world. Photography is all about the way you see the world. Which moments feel enduring, what emotions pull me in… whether it’s people, architecture or the spirit of a city, a film camera forces you to pick the moment. And that makes every frame special.”

When she travelled to Amritsar recently to shoot for Imtiaz Ali’s next film, Sharvari packed her camera. This was her first shoot in Punjab, and she loved the experience. “I’ve absolutely fallen in love — with the food, the people, the culture. Punjab has this peace and positivity that you can feel in the air.”

During the shoot, whenever time allowed, she would set out with her camera, documenting the landscapes, the bustle of the streets and the quiet of dawn.

The Munjya actress says, “I captured a series there. It reflects Punjab for me - full of warmth, kindness and serenity. I also love clicking pictures of every person I work with. I’m also creating a series for each film — capturing the crew and the people who actually make cinema happen. These behind-the-scenes moments feel so alive.”

Photography, she says, has changed the way she travels. “I notice architecture more, the way cities are built for their weather, how roads and buildings are maintained. I pay more attention to people — their moments and moods.”

Her dream is to capture the vibrant mood in the city during Ganesh Chaturthi. “It’s my favourite festival. I’ve seen stunning visarjan pictures on Instagram. I hope someday I get to photograph it in all its emotion and glory.”

As per original plans, pre-production of ‘Luka Chuppi 2’ was to begin in early 2026. But the buzz in the industry is that the Varun Dhawan and Sharvari-starrer has now been pushed by nearly six to eight months. Reason? From what we’re told, it’s director Laxman Utekar’s packed slate.

Utekar, who had helmed Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-led ‘Luka Chuppi’ in 2019, is currently neck-deep in the shoot of ‘Eetha’, his biopic on Tamasha artiste Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar.

A source told mid-day, “Laxman is completely tied up with the Shraddha Kapoor film right now. ‘Eetha’ is demanding his full attention, and he doesn’t want ‘Luka Chuppi 2’ to feel rushed or compromised. After he wraps up ‘Eetha’ by mid-2026, he will train his focus on the rom-com’s sequel.”

The lead actors too have a busy date diary. While Dhawan is expected to begin work on ‘Bhediya 2’, Sharvari is currently filming for Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Yeh Prem Mol Liya’. The source added, “A final call on the story and timeline will be taken in late 2026.”

Sooraj Barjatya has plunged straight into his next directorial venture with Ayushmann Khurrana — and he is wasting no time. The film, originally titled Prem Ki Shaadi, is now called Yeh Prem Mol Liya. It went on floors on November 1, and the team has already wrapped a week-long song shoot in Kandivli. The cast and crew will now begin a 60-day start-to-finish schedule.

The next leg, beginning this week at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, is designed to film most of the drama and family sequences, according to sources from the production house. Intricately detailed indoor sets have been constructed across three floors of the studio.

“The team plans to wrap up the shoot by January 2026. Almost 80 per cent of the film will be completed in Mehboob, with a few outdoor patch portions. The idea is to maintain the creative continuity and shoot the emotional graph of the story in one flow,” reveals a crew member.

The first song, filmed over seven days, featured the lead cast, a large ensemble, and 200 background dancers. “The song was choreographed in true Barjatya fashion. It sets the tone for the film’s world and introduces the leads in a big, joyous way,” says an insider from the unit.

Led by Khurrana, Yeh Prem Mol Liya features Sharvari as the leading lady, with Anupam Kher, Seema Pahwa, and Supriya Pathak in pivotal roles. Unlike his previous films, Barjatya is said to be exploring a more contemporary take on love and relationships with this romantic family drama.

An Imtiaz Ali film is almost always surrounded by much interest and anticipation. Things are no different for the filmmaker’s next, with fans curious to know more about the Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina-starrer. No prizes for guessing that Ali, known for his poetic takes on love, is exploring the genre again. mid-day has learnt that the yet-untitled film is a period drama set against India’s Partition, with Raina and Sharvari playing lovers whose lives are upended in its aftermath.

The film, also starring Naseeruddin Shah, is set in Punjab. A source reveals, “Set in the 1940s, the movie looks at Partition and its after-effects from the lens of two lovers. While Sharvari plays the young female lead opposite Vedang, Imtiaz is in talks with two more leading ladies for other prominent roles as the film revolves around different generations of families. Prep on the project has begun with Vedang and Sharvari recently doing their look tests. Designer Sheetal Sharma, who worked on Imtiaz’s last film Chamkila [2024], has been roped in for the period drama.”

If things go as planned, Ali will call action on the film in August. “Through the movie, Imtiaz will trace the heartbreak that accompanies migration. Despite the theme, the story will not show Pakistan, and only make passing references to it.”

People tend to listen when their favourite actor champions a cause. This belief has made Bollywood artistes join forces ahead of World Environment Day on June 5 every year, to raise awareness about nature conservation. This year, Ajay Devgn and Sharvari have taken the lead. The actors have shot for two special videos, helmed by Imtiaz Ali, as part of the World Environment Day campaign that aims to fight plastic pollution.

In the past few years, many stars — including Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Bhumi Pednekar — have fronted music videos to drive home the message. But Asif Bhamla, whose foundation spearheads the World Environment Day campaign, reveals that they changed tack this year.

“This time we have taken a break from music videos. When I initially reached out to Ajay for the music video, he said that dance is not his forte, but he will do it as a video message. He added that we should create something that can run at the theatres too; that way, we can reach out to maximum people. We have three videos, [two of which are] titled Tik Tik Plastic 3.0 and Earthing. While Ajay and Sharvari have starred in two, the third stars Zeenat Aman and singer Shaan,” says Bhamla.

Ali based the campaign on a simple truth — that even the smallest acts of environmental preservation can make a big difference. While one video sees Devgn urging people against plastic use, the second was shot in a Bandra garden and has the two stars reconnecting with nature.

The director shares, “While writing the two short films, I wanted to ensure that the tone is not preachy or boring; instead, it should be something that the country’s youth relate to. Ajay felt the same way.”

For Devgn, the campaign not only marks his first collaboration with Ali, a director he has been keen to work with, but also mirrors his own beliefs. “I have been advocating for conscious, eco-friendly living, and this campaign is a natural extension of that journey. Our aim is to reach everyone with the message that even small actions, done consistently, can make a big difference.”

Sharvari adds, “To be directed by Imtiaz Ali was a dream come true. I have always wished to be on a set with him. To be in the same frame as Ajay Devgn sir was a fantastic experience. There is so much to learn by just seeing him perform.”

Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya is thrilled about his upcoming projects, particularly Alpha, where he shares the screen with Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. “They bring such distinct energies to the set; it was an absolute delight working with both. Today’s actors are incredibly dedicated — nailing hardcore action sequences isn’t as easy as it looks. They’re far more professional than I was when I started 25 years ago, and I’ve had to evolve along the way,” says the seasoned actor, who began his journey in theatre in the late ’80s.

Though action isn’t his usual territory, Dibyendu is eager to dive into the genre at this stage of his career: “You get inspired once you see your co-actors acing the game and both my co-actors as well as the all the others had a lot on their sleeves. I knew it will be an actioner from day one and thrill bhi bhar bhar ke hoga, so I was prepared in my head.”

For Dibyendu, the presence of female leads in a project isn’t a defining factor — what matters is the art. “I love cinema, and that’s what drives me. Whether I’m working with one or two female leads, or with a woman producer or director, the goal remains the same — to create something impactful for the audience,” he explains.

Reuniting with Alia after Poacher (2024), where she served as executive producer, is an exciting prospect for him. “Alia is a leading woman with a conscience. When she backed Poacher, I became a huge fan of hers — it was a risky subject, but she took the leap. Sharing screen space with her this time is thrilling.”

Dibyendu is also hopeful about the timely release of Chakda Xpress, starring Anushka Sharma, and the remake of Ek Ruka Hua Faisla — two very different films he’s eager to see reach audiences. “A film releasing on time is a blessing for everyone involved, but as actors, that’s beyond our control,” he remarks.

Karan Johar surely knows how to play his cards right. The producer-filmmaker, who has managed to present narratives in a way that appeases the young generation, has come up with a way to gain the eyeballs of both Gen Z and millennials.

Johar, whose upcoming venture is the Kartik Aaryan-starrer romantic drama Tu Meri Main Tera Main Teri Tu Mera, is apparently toying with the idea of introducing the cast of his 2013 film, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, to this venture. Cast members, including Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Kalki Koechlin, are expected to revive their characters in Sameer Vidwans’s film in what is being seen as Dharma Productions’ initial efforts to explore cinematic crossovers. Sharvari is expected to feature alongside Aaryan.

“Since this film is a rom-com, and is along the lines of YJHD, this move seems like a natural progression. They are contemplating roping in the original stars for special appearances. Even if all of them aren’t available, they will try to get two of them to be part of it. These cameos will be a delightful nod to the beloved film. Apart from the fact that the actors’ dates must match, their introduction into the film needs to be seamless, not forced. That will be addressed during the writing process,” says a source.

Johar may want to capitalize on the demand for Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, which amassed Rs. 10 crore on its re-release weeks ago.

Actor Anjini S Dhawan, niece of actor Varun Dhawan, firmly believes that “with the influence of the younger generation, people have become more woke and open-minded.” On National Youth Day today, the 24-year-old opens up about what it’s like to be a young actor in the industry and how Gen Z can change the game.

“The kind of roles being offered to us (younger generation) have changed drastically. Now, we get to do roles that are more inclusive, such as in Mismatched, as well as women-led, which was not the case earlier. I remember watching Chameli (2004) and there wasn’t any other such film for a long time after that,” Dhawan shares, adding, “Films like Sadma (1983) were also just one-offs. But today, there are so many women-led films such as the upcoming Alpha [starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari].”

Talking about Gen Z’s role in making such changes possible, Dhawan adds, “The younger generation is changing many norms, and it’s eventually them that’s going to run the country and the world. People are also open to a lot more things than they were earlier, and I think mindsets are changing — which is a good thing.”

Sharvari, Bollywood’s rising star, is turning heads both on and off the screen. Riding high on the success of her recent hit Vedaa, her commendable work in Maharaj and the game-changing Munjya, she’s now gearing up for her next big venture, Alpha, alongside Alia Bhatt. “It feels surreal when people say I’ve arrived. The journey has been long, but I’m just so grateful,” she shares, her excitement shining through. Adding another feather to her cap, Sharvari also graced the cover of HT Showstoppers’ first quarterly magazine this month, effortlessly blending elegance with contemporary flair.

Much like her cinematic choices, Sharvari’s fashion reflects her persona — bold yet grounded. “Growing up, I was a tomboy and mostly wore my sister’s clothes. Now, I have a Pinterest board filled with looks. In a world full of trends, I want to be a classic,” she says.

Even today, the final verdict on her outfits lies with her sister, Kasturi. “She’s my go-to for outfit approval. Sometimes, I call her in the middle of her meetings and say, ‘Please check your WhatsApp right now,’ and she responds, ‘I’m in a meeting!’ I just keep insisting, ‘Please, please, please!’” she laughs.

In the era of Reels and Feeds, the actor is acutely aware of the scrutiny that comes with public life. “Social media puts everyone’s fashion choices under a microscope. It’s important to stay authentic and true to who I am,” she says. For her, comfort and self-expression are paramount.

“I refuse to wear anything that feels uncomfortable. Being transparent with my fans is key,” she explains. On the red carpet, she’s unafraid to “experiment”, but her mantra is clear: “If I feel good in something, I’ll wear it with pride — but only if I’m comfortable.”

Her adventurous approach to fashion also includes a keen eye for seasonal trends and a knack for mixing “Western silhouettes with Indian aesthetics”. “I love pairing a chic crop top with a long skirt or a traditional lehenga,” she shares.

Two female spies fighting the baddies against Kashmir’s mountainous terrain—that’s how director Shiv Rawail had imagined one of the fight sequences in Alpha. In September, Alia Bhatt and Sharvari went to Pahalgam for the spy thriller’s third schedule. However, the team was unable to conduct the 10-day stint after the rains wreaked havoc in the region. Now, mid-day has learnt that the unit has headed back to the Valley.

During their last trip, Bhatt and Sharvari could barely film three days due to the rains that lashed the region.

A source reveals, “The director had cancelled the schedule due to the terrible weather. After that, Shiv and producer Aditya Chopra considered different possible cities where they could film the portions. However, they soon realised that the Valley’s picturesque locations were perfect for the sequences in question, and slotted the Kashmir leg again for mid-October.”

We’ve heard that Sharvari flew out yesterday, while Alia will join the unit today or tomorrow. Over the next few days, the duo will film an action sequence and a song.

The insider adds, “The action set-piece involves an elaborate chase. Besides Pahalgam, they will shoot in Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Srinagar.” With Alpha, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol also join the spyverse, which includes Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

Sharvari’s star is on the rise after the unexpected success of Munjya. The actor followed it up with Maharaj. But her third release of the year, Vedaa, is of prime importance to her. Reason? Nikkhil Advani’s directorial venture is her first stab at playing the titular role. If starring in and as is tough, matching up to John Abraham in an action film is tougher. She says she underwent five-month intensive training in boxing before facing the camera.

“I had never taken up boxing before. To learn it from scratch was a challenge. I had to build my physical fitness and endurance before I even started learning boxing. I specifically had to learn the speed bag for the film,” she recounts.

On screen, Abraham plays her mentor, who helps her toughen up as she fights against caste violence. Off screen, the dynamics weren’t too different.

“John is the biggest action star of our country. In real life, he taught me a lot about action sequences and their safety. It has been enriching to learn some tricks of the trade from John. But we were all in service of our director’s vision. I’ve been a huge fan of Nikkhil’s work and to be directed by him in a titular role is motivating for someone like me who comes with no backing in this industry.”

Leading the August 15 release gives a boost of confidence to the four-project-old actor. Even as she comes off Munjya’s success, she asserts that her focus is on her craft more than the box-office numbers. 

“This film is important for my survival, growth, and my belief in my craft. Different languages, different lives and stories attract me as an actor. My character’s relentless fight for equality and justice inspired me to be a part of Vedaa. For me, the most important things are the story and what my character is trying to say.”

That’s where Vedaa, with its messaging about standing up against casteism, spoke to her. Sharvari views it as a story of resilience and challenging the status quo.

She states, “It’s a tale of empowerment, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can triumph. We want to remind viewers that standing up for what is right, with courage and conviction, can lead to lasting change, and that every individual has the power to make a difference.”

When production house Yash Raj Films approached Robin Behl to help Sharvari prep for their spy film, the brief was simple: She needed to look sexy, and strong. Knowledge around fitness science may be available in abundance, but Behl admits that the notion that strong women inevitably acquire a masculine physique, is still propagated. Sharvari, however, had spent enough time under the barbell to know that the claims had no merit.

“She had to be extremely fit because she was set to pull off many action sequences both with and without weapons. Since she was already undergoing action training for three hours, my job was to cater to the aesthetics. So, of course, strength training became a major component of our routine, but, because she needed to look athletic, I didn’t want her body to appear stiff on screen.”

In a bid to “introduce fluidity in her movements”, Behl included handstands, body-weight exercises, and mobility drills into her routine. Often, they’d indulge in a bout of boxing.

“All of this ensured that while she stayed active, her range of motion wasn’t compromised. This relates to both physical and mental [agility]. When you introduce something different into your regimen, you force your nervous system to adapt. If you continue to do the same movements, [the mind] stops learning. Of course, we had to repeat movements to help her build strength in certain muscles, but we had to also switch them often to keep her [at the edge]. This was also essential given the role that she was playing,” he says of the actor, who pairs up with Alia Bhatt for the film titled Alpha, and touted as the production house’s first female-led espionage thriller of the spy universe.

Behl has previously been credited for enabling Adarsh Gourav prep for the role of a fitness trainer in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023). And while the trainer had opined that he was getting the actor physically ready for the film, he was amused to see his mannerisms unfold on screen when the movie released.

“I noticed that Adarsh had also picked up [nuances], like the way I walked or spoke, and it was interesting to see that.” Having seen Gourav at work, he wanted to expose Sharvari to a similar situation—one where she could experience, first-hand, how athletes move.

“That’s why I took her to meet my teacher, Carl Varel, who is Asia’s number six Brazilian Jiu Jitsu [expert]. I wanted her to experience the grappling, clinching and take-downs [associated with the sport], and see how they move.”

Sharvari’s training involved a whole lot of everything. “We did a lot of running bouts with her. But, instead of asking her to run at one pace for a long time, we included variations, like [interval training]. To improve her adaptability, we made her run bouts that varied from two to six kilometres. Often, we’d run in the heat at noon, or early in the day at 6 am. Strength training was included. She’s incredible with her pushing movements and could execute push-ups and parallel bar dips. Gradually, we started introducing a lot of balancing work into her routine. Because I have prior experience with forms like Kung Fu, we’d have her train with sticks. The idea was to make her comfortable with how [an athlete] moves, and to build familiarity with the choreography. I am a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so, I added that into her regimen because combat will be involved in her scenes.” 

A major chunk of his sessions with Sharvari may have concluded, but Behl still seems to be in awe of her ability to meet his challenges. Ask him if she found it tough to keep up with the day-long training sessions and he says, “I found it tough to keep up with her.”

“She wouldn’t stop. After a one-hour-20-minute routine, when I am wrapping up, she’d ask me what’s next. She’d walk in saying she had two hours to train, and I’d have to tell her that I did not. Usually, I take a while to acquaint myself with an actor’s abilities in the gym, but, with her, we could pick up the pace in as little as two weeks. It was due to that effort that she could shave off nine per cent of body fat [in five months].”

Fans have picked their favourite on-screen spy from Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. But we’ve got our eyes on the latest entrant in the YRF spy universe—Alia Bhatt. mid-day has learnt that the actor, who will play an undercover agent in Shiv Rawail’s directorial venture, is set to kick off the yet-untitled film early next month. There will be no half measures for Bhatt, who will start by filming her action-packed entry scene.

Sources tell us that producer Aditya Chopra and the director have lined up a month-long schedule at the YRF Studios in Andheri. While the leading lady will can an action set-piece over the first few days, she will soon be joined by Sharvari, who plays her sister in the project.

“Shiv has slotted several fight sequences for the first leg. After her introduction scene, Alia will move on to another massive action set-piece that will see her and Sharvari join forces. Adi will ensure that the Mumbai shoot is conducted with a limited crew and is heavily guarded so that details aren’t leaked,” says a source.

The two actors’ spy mission will then take them to the UK. Anil Kapoor, who has been roped in to portray their mentor, will join the unit in this stint.   

The film marks Bhatt’s first attempt at action in Bollywood, although she recently dabbled in the genre with Heart of Stone (2023). Naturally, the actor is going in, armed with prep. She has been training with international action choreographers Se-yeong Oh and Craig Macrae over the past two months in the Andheri studio.

The source adds, “Se-yeong and Craig, who are among the seven stunt directors roped in, were flown down from Seoul and London respectively. Alia’s introduction scene will see her take on a group of baddies. She has picked up hand-to-hand combat moves and is now training with a team of 40 to perfect the fight.”

Bobby Deol, who plays the antagonist, has also begun prep.

After a positive response to the trailer of Munjya, Maddock Films released the first song from the film. Titled Taras, it’s a groovy dance track featuring actor Sharvari, someone the industry believes is the next big star of Bollywood. Ever since Taras dropped, there’s been a lot of buzz around Sharvari’s look in the dance track.

Talking about the track Sharvari says, “I am thrilled to see the positive response that people have showered on my first solo dance number Taras from Munjya. I’m just one film old in the industry. To have such a massively mounted dance song featuring me is a dream come true. I wanted to give it my all and to see that people are loving Taras gives me a lot of validation.”

She adds, “When I went for the shoot of Taras, I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform. It presented me in such a cool way that I totally loved it. Being a fan of Hindi films, I’m naturally a huge lover of Hindi film songs, especially dance numbers. With the kind of response that Taras has got, I’m hoping that this will be the first hit dance song of my career. That’s a really special milestone for me and I thank my producer, Dinesh Vijan, for the trust he had in me to pull off this song.”

Presented by Dinesh Vijan, Munjya has been directed by Aditya Sarpotdar. The film is being produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik and will release in cinemas on June 7, 2024.