Anshuman Jha, who is busy prepping for Victor Mukherjee’s Lakadbaggha, is all set to swap his lean frame for a muscular look. The actioner has him perform elaborate stunts and hand-to-hand combat, for which he is training with Tsahi Shemesh, who had earlier trained Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan for The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. “He is an incredible trainer and a self-defence expert. He pushes, insults [lovingly] and brings forth the best in me. Tsahi is one of the best people I have met in my life,” says the actor.

Jha began his training with Vicky Arora in July, then flew to New York to learn Krav Maga from Shemesh. He is currently working with Prashant Sawant on his transformation. “Working with all these gurus is an exhilarating experience. Learning about my own body and its limits is new for me,” says the actor, crediting Shemesh for motivating him.

“Tsahi is a great teacher. I am taking baby steps with the best in the business. [I am] trying to do my best for the film in the [limited] time I have,” he adds.

Written by Alok Sharma, Lakadbaggha is set in East Kolkata, Chinatown and will go on the floors in December 2021.

Actor Anshuman Jha is gearing up for some nail-biting hand-to-hand combat on screen, for which he is taking professional training. While the actor is well-versed with several fighting styles, the one he is learning for the film is quite different.

Known as Krav Maga, this mixed-martial art and self- defence system is at the core of action that Jha’s character will perform in the upcoming film, Lakadbaggha. “I have also trained in Kalaripayattu and Parkour in between, but Krav Maga is a different beast,” says the actor, who reveals that being trained in taekwondo as a kid, did help him to a certain extent. “Because of my training in taekwondo, my basics are in the right direction,” he shares.

Prepping for the action sequence since July, the actor is now in New York to train with Tsahi Shemesh, a self-defence expert, specialising in Krav Maga.

The Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele actor has put many months of hard work into the craft, and admits he has been feeling the strongest. “Sparring with Shemesh on the floor is a reality check on how far ahead the road is for me,” he says, adding, “Any martial arts form is eventually about kicks and punches, defence and offence. Only the form and style changes. Balance remains the key. But the body reacts differently to when you’re 12 to when you re 32. But I’m feeling 12 again. The curiosity to discover and learn can do magic to the mind and brain.”

For Jha, the journey has been a physically challenging one, but he aims to ace the martial art , and not just learn it for the film. “It’s pushing my mind, body and core. But that will eventually help me perform, as the movement will flow and not look forced. I want to give it my 200% so that the audience doesn’t feel let down in any aspect of the film. It’s our responsibility as artistes to serve the best that we can,” he shares.

Thanks to his training, the actor promises some raw, in-your-face hand to hand combat in the action flick. “The film combines my two biggest passions —love for animals and action — so I’m invested. There’s action with a purpose. There’ll be an eclectic fusion of Indian and foreign cast, crew to bring forth their expertise for a first of its kind film in the genre from India,” he ends.