From Shershaah to Yodha: How Sidharth Malhotra Transformed Into An Action Hero With Rigorous Training

Yodha : Sidharth Malhotra won the hearts of the nation with Dharma Productions' blockbuster, Shershaah (2021). He then went into more action-packed roles with Mission Majnu (2023) and Indian Police Force (2024). Now, he is set to raise the bar with Dharma Productions' Yodha.

Unlike the real-life portrayal of the war hero in Shershaah, Yodha ventures into a fictitious world, exploring the dilemmas of saving oneself or countrymen in a high-stakes hijack thriller.

In Yodha, Sidharth plays a suspended officer from the special unit, Yodha Task Force, who is given the task of battling hijackers in tense aircraft settings. For the film, months of meticulous planning preceded the action-packed sequences, with choreographer Craig Macrae designing knife techniques and hand-to-hand combat for tight spaces.

Sidharth Malhotra's six-month preparation included a rigorous fitness regimen, embodying the lithe frame essential for the role. Malhotra's dedication to physical training and meticulous preparation ensured seamless execution on set. From the action-packed promos, we can imagine how tough it must have been for the team.

Throwing light on the same, director Pushkar Ojha said, "We storyboarded the idea to the finest detail. Then, a fight choreographer sat with us and added to it. When Sidharth entered the scene, he first did the action on a mock set."

Co-director Sagar Ambre added that Yodha isn't just about action. Taking us into the depths of the character, Ambre shared, "Arun is a true soldier. He has an ailing mother, a loving wife, and is a family man, but still, the nation comes first for him. When his patriotism is questioned, something changes in him."