Shriyam Bhagnani Opens Up About Her Physical and Emotional Preparation for Sumo Didi

Shriyam Bhagnani stars as Hetal Dave, recognized as India’s first professional female sumo wrestler, in the sports biopic Sumo Didi. The film explores Dave’s journey into a male-dominated sport and the challenges she faced along the way.

The cast also features Chaitanya Sharma, Anubha Fatehpuriya, the late Nitesh Pandey, Raghav Dhir, and Meenal Kapoor. For Bhagnani, the project marks her first lead role, bringing a heavy sense of responsibility due to portraying a real person in a complex, physically demanding role.

Reflecting on the experience, Bhagnani shared that playing Dave required intense physical and emotional preparation, ultimately shifting her perspective on strength and resilience. She noted that Dave's story stayed with her long after filming concluded and expressed hope that audiences would connect with the journey.

Sumo Didi follows Dave as she takes up sumo wrestling and challenges traditional perceptions of women, body image, and sporting ability. Bhagnani's previous credits include City of Dreams and Netflix's Aap Jaisa Koi. Additionally, Jio Studios' Sumo Didi was scheduled to screen at the New York Indian Film Festival 2024 on June 2.