Vidyut Jammwal is all set to make his Hollywood debut with ‘Street Fighter’, where he plays Dhalsim, a fan-favourite character from the popular video games. Ahead of the film’s October 16 release, the action star spoke about taking kalaripayattu to a global audience and sharing the screen with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Vidyut Jammwal on why Dhalsim feels familiar
Fans have welcomed his casting as Dhalsim, mainly because the actor and the character have so much in common. Explaining the connection to the Hindustan Times, Vidyut Jammwal said, “He is a martial artist, a kalaripayattu practitioner. He does yoga. Of course, he does that yoga flame and the supernatural things that I can’t. But it was very close to me.”The actor described ‘Street Fighter’ as ‘a movie that has been waiting to come out, that fans have been waiting for years’. However, he had one more reason to sign up: the chance to work with action legends. The cast also includes Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, 50 Cent and Jason Momoa.“For me, I was looking forward to working with legends I have always known. I was excited I would get to be with these people rather than just meeting them for a party,” said the actor.
Hollywood stars and Indian culture
Vidyut Jammwal was surprised by how well his co-stars understood Indian traditions, including kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art from India. He shared, “These 9-10 global legends know more about kalaripayattu than many Indians, whether it is 50 Cent or Noah Centineo. They can blow the shankh (conch). This is an Indian heritage that people can’t do.”The 45-year-old called the experience life-changing. He explained, “As a person, I have been around some of the strongest men in the world, and being in their presence and witnessing them has been a life-changing experience. These are men you can really hang around with. These are different people. They are successful, yet secure. They are wealthy but humble. There is no pretence.”
Kalaripayattu’s big global moment
Vidyut Jammwal has practised kalaripayattu since the age of three and remains one of the best-known faces of the art form in India. He finds it humbling to present it to the world through a mainstream Hollywood film.When asked if this could be Kalaripayattu’s Bruce Lee moment, he replied, “If I could do what Bruce Lee did for kung fu? Kung Fu had its good fortune. Kalaripayattu will have its time too.”
About ‘Street Fighter’
‘Street Fighter’ is the third live-action feature film based on Capcom’s video game series of the same name. It releases in theatres on October 16, and fans will soon see how Vidyut brings Dhalsim to the big screen.
