Ritika Singh, a young Mumbai girl, had no idea what destiny had in store for her when she was participating in the Super Fight League (SFL), a mixed martial art reality show, in Mumbai in 2012.
It was from here she caught the eye of versatile actor R Madhavan, who had signed up for the protagonist’s role in a boxing-based movie ‘Saala Khadoos’ and was looking for a real boxer-cum-heroine.
What Ritika now calls a turnaround of fortunes in her life, she surprisingly passed the audition to bag the role of lead actress in In the movie, which will see its pan-India opening on Friday.
Ritika, a trained mixed martial artist and a karate player, who is also a multiple-time national champion, is excited at her new innings and said the Bollywood break has opened new forays in her life that she wants to explore in future.
“I had played sports all through my life but I never thought of acting in a movie. It happened with a call from Madhavan sir to Raj Kundra, promoter of the SFL. Madhavan spotted me during an SFL match and called me through Raj for a movie audition. I, despite having no experience of acting, was selected for the role of a stubborn boxer,” she told IBNLive.
Ritika learned kick-boxing and karate at quite an early age from her karate master father Mohan Singh. During the fights as a kick boxer, she left many her opponents gasping for breath, but playing the role of a boxer in front of camera made her perspire in the beginning of the shoot.
“The story is about Indian women amateur boxing team, but the picturisation gives you the impression of pro boxing, where you will see rivalries between two individuals. I had to adapt attitude, high-handedness and arrogance of a pro boxer. It was tough in the beginning because I have been an affable, calm and composed person in real life,” she said.
At such a juncture, where exuberance not calmness, arrogance not humility, savagery not tender-heartedness was the requirement of the role, Ritika turned to Indian pro boxer Neeraj Goyat to learn the tricks of the trade and also took tips from one of pro boxing administrators in India – Jai Singh Shekhawat.
“Their advice was precious as it helped me mould into a pro-boxer like person. Also, the crew at sets was highly helpful. Madhavan sir never let me feel that I was a newcomer in the industry. He boosted my confidence every time I was lacking in acting skills,” said Ritika.
Ritika liked the traits of pro-boxing to the level that she has no hesitation now in training and moving to pro circuit. “Acting came to me accidentally but I am a sportsperson by nature. I want to act but I also love mixed martial art, kick-boxing and boxing. I have passion for all three and I dream to play one of them at pro level some time in future.”
Ritika said that the tips she took from pro boxers also helped her fight real bouts in the film. “In the film, there is not a single scene where we had fake fights. There is 100 per cent real boxing in the movie. It was possible because all opponents and sparring partners in the movie are real boxers, even the opponent who I beat in the final is a British pro boxer.”
Madhavan too took his role seriously and went to Las Vegas, USA, for two months to train as a boxing coach.
India rarely produces movies on sports, but Chak de India, Bhag Milkha Bhag, Paan Singh Tomar and Mary Kom grabbed a lot of attention and popularised respective sports portrayed in them to some extent. Ritika says her movie is also going to do a world of good for woman boxing in India.
“I feel sports movies are giving identification to non-conventional sports. The other day I was trying to tell somebody what was mixed martial art and she said she knew it through an Akshay Kumar movie called Brother. People connect with sports much faster if they see it through a story in a movie.”
She added: “I too feel my movie will give a glimpse into the lives of women boxers, who earn glory for the nation despite facing a lot of difficulties in life and career.”
As her Bollywood career kicks off on Friday, it will be interesting to see how this kick-boxer achieves her goals in real and reel life.
Courtesy of: IBN Live