Originally, Shriyam Bhagnani was meant to make her Bollywood debut with Sumo Didi, a biopic of female Sumo wrestler Hetal Dave. While it has yet to see the light of day, the actor made her maiden film appearance over the weekend with Aap Jaisa Koi, led by R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh. It’s a joy to foray into Bollywood; the bigger joy, she says, is to do so with Madhavan, an actor she grew up admiring.

“I have been his fan [thanks to] 3 Idiots [2009], and recently, Shaitaan [2024]. His character in Shaitaan was intense. [When I met him], I told him I was scared of that character,” she laughs, before adding that the actor put her at ease with his warm nature. “In our first scene, I was so nervous that I referred to him as Madhavansh. He told me to relax, and we both laughed it off.” 

In the Netflix release, Bhagnani plays Nisha, Madhavan’s niece, a quietly rebellious character navigating a patriarchal set-up. She credits director Vivek Soni for helping her understand her part better. “Vivek sir is clear about what he wants. He’d let me perform the scene and then give his feedback.”

Having kickstarted her Bollywood career, she is hoping that Sumo Didi — which sees her as the lead and has been ready since 2023 — will reach the audience soon. She says, “The film is not stuck. Jio Studios trusted me with a biopic, and I trust them to release it at the right moment.”

In April, Jio Studios had announced Sumo Didi, which is inspired by the journey of India’s first female sumo wrestler Hetal Dave. Now, the sports drama, which sees Shriyam Bhagnani step into the titular role, will have its world première at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival. It has been officially selected in the competitive Asian Future section of the festival, and will be screened on October 27.

For director Jayant Rohatgi, it is only fitting that the movie, set in the world of sumo wrestling, start its journey from Japan. He shares, “Sumo Didi is an inherent human story about resilience in the depths of despair. I am grateful to our partners, my cast and crew for their support in accomplishing this selection. What better way to celebrate this than to showcase our film in Japan, the birthplace of sumo wrestling!” 

Sumo Didi—shot in Mumbai, Kolkata and Japan—celebrates the determination of a girl, who defies fat-shaming, by turning the so-called weakness into her strength and representing India globally.

Hetal Dave