Shriyam Bhagnani has described nine months of preparation for Sumo Didi, including the different treatment she experienced after gaining weight, in a Hindustan Times interview.
The actor plays Hetal Dave, identified by the film’s streaming platform as India’s first professional female sumo wrestler. Now available on ZEE5, the sports drama follows a woman pursuing an unconventional ambition while confronting expectations about her body and career.
Preparation involved an entire support team
Learning to portray a wrestler required more than a change in appearance.
In a separate interview with Moneycontrol, Bhagnani credited a team that included a strength and conditioning coach, a yoga trainer, physiotherapists, doctors and a nutritionist. Dave herself taught the actor techniques used in judo and sumo.
Bhagnani described the transformation as a collective effort, with director Jayant Rohatgi guiding how the character should look and perform. Dave also praised the actor’s close observation of her mannerisms, including how she spoke and carried herself.
Weight gain changed how people responded to her
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bhagnani said people who did not know about her preparation treated her differently after she gained weight.
She explained that those real-life experiences helped her relate to scenes involving body-shaming. She also described the physical transformation as something whose effects continued beyond the shoot, rather than ending when filming was complete.
Her account brings attention to the assumptions people make about appearance without knowing someone’s circumstances.
Understanding sumo went beyond size and strength
Bhagnani told Indulge that training with Dave changed her understanding of the sport. Balance, footwork, timing and anticipating an opponent were important parts of the preparation.
She also described a shift in how she viewed her own body: her attention moved towards strength, stamina and the ability to perform the wrestling sequences convincingly.
Learning directly from Dave gave her access to the experience behind the sporting movements, helping connect the physical preparation with the character’s determination.
A demanding commitment early in her career
Bhagnani told Mid-day that people around her warned the weight gain might limit future casting opportunities.
The commitment also affected her availability. She said the project required an exclusive period of roughly nine to ten months, during which she could not accept other work. Despite those concerns, she chose to continue with the role.
Where to watch Sumo Didi
Directed by Jayant Rohatgi, Sumo Didi is streaming on ZEE5 following its October 23, 2026 release.
Alongside Bhagnani, the cast includes Chaitanya Sharma, Anubha Fatehpura, Nitesh Pandey and Raghav Dhir. The Hindi sports drama draws on Hetal Dave’s real-life journey.
