About Me

header ads

Farhan Akhtar and Darshan Kumaar shoot with real boxers in Toofan

Farhan Akhtar, who will be seen playing a boxer in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan, will be seen exchanging punches with real boxers in the sports drama. Darshan Kumaar, known for his performances in films like Sarbjit, Mary Kom, NH10, and Baaghi 2, and OTT shows like Aashram, plays the antagonist, Maharashtrian boxer Dharmesh Patil in the sports drama. The actors spent a considerable amount of time preparing for their roles, including professional coaching in boxing for a few months.



Talking about the film and his experience of working as the key antagonist opposite Farhan, Darshan says, “We had a large number of professional boxers from all over India on our set. There was no room for anyone to act. We had to punch each other for real. Kitni baar sujan aati thi, bruise-marks bante the. But it was all worth it. One doesn’t easily get a chance to work with Rakeysh sir, who is the most soft-spoken director that I’ve met. He gives you tremendous freedom to interpret the role as you deem fit. I wanted to do a film about boxing and I didn’t just get that but also a chance to be trained by Darrel Foster, who is a very demanding trainer. He trains professionals. Farhan Bhai and I also trained like professional boxers. Our diet was maintained accordingly. We would train from 7 am to 3pm, four-five days a week, with hardly a few breaks in between. Darrel sir was ruthless but when he saw final cuts of boxing sequences, he gave us a pat on the back. We used to think Kahan fans Gaye yaar but now it feels worth it.”


When asked about slipping into the mind space of the villain, Darshan says, “I had to just think that what my character is doing is right. In his story, he is a hero. The audience will watch the film and feel that my character is the antagonist but I am not allowed to feel so while playing the part. I had to play the part like it’s second nature for me to behave like that.”

Darshan has recently hopped on to a thriller starring MadhavanKhushali Kumar, and Aparshakti Khurana, for which he is undergoing weight training and workshops. “The Year 2020 and 2021 have been kind to me. I had two OTT shows. Aashram broke records with over a hundred million views and will now roll out its second season’ we will start shooting in Uttar Pradesh again. The lockdown taught me that andhi daud mein bhaagna is not a good idea. I got a chance to be with my family and chalk out work in such a way that it doesn’t get mundane.”