When actor-rapper
Chaitnya Sharma
aka
SlowCheeta
was approached for the Ajay Devgn-starrer ‘Maidaan’, it wasn’t just intensive acting workshops he looked forward to. He was also gearing up for an eight-month-long, gruelling football training regimen to embody the role of PK Banerjee perfectly. Although the film may not have scored the anticipated goal at the box office, Chaitnya has managed to impress the audience with his performance.
Speaking about the training, the
actor
shares, “The training process was extremely rigorous.
We would wake up at 5:30 am, and be on the ground by 7 am, engaging in two hours of intense football training led by our coach, Dinesh Nair, who is officially associated with Mumbai City FC. He ensured we trained like professional footballers. We would have breakfast together after the training and rest for an hour. Afterward, we would grab a small bite and hit the gym for another two-hour session. The acting workshop took place from 6 pm to 9 pm. The training was intense and demanding, spanning eight months before shooting and continuing throughout filming. It was an incredible journey filled with lots of fun moments. We were a group of 16 enthusiastic boys who have become like a family to me. We had each other’s backs, which was our secret power. Despite our bodies feeling broken and our minds exhausted, we found strength to show up every day because our collective goal was bigger than any of us.”
Chaitnya in a still from ‘Maidaan’
One of the highlights of being part of the film was having the chance to share screen space with Ajay Devgn. Describing the experience as a learning opportunity, Chaitnya, who is all praise for his senior actor, says, “Working with
Ajay Devgn
was truly a dream come true. There is no one quite like him; no one can do what he does. He is self-made and dedicated to his craft and the characters he portrays. You really have to elevate your performance to hold your own in front of him. During scenes, he would speak softly, and I was always curious about it. However, when we watched the playback on the monitor, I was amazed by the depth and intensity of his voice and emotions. That level of mastery only comes with experience.”
With years dedicated to honing his craft on stage and time spent as a closet rapper, Chaitnya has been enjoying the best of both worlds. Does he ever grapple with deciding which one should hold greater importance? “Although I started with acting and have been actively involved in stage for the past 12 years, my journey has been marked by transitions between acting and rapping. I began writing around the same time but never published my music. At first, I assumed acting would take off for me, with rapping remaining a hobby. However, an opportunity arose when I came across a newspaper article about a lucky draw to rap with Ranveer Singh. I decided to audition and was selected; there has been no looking back since. It was my music and rapping that garnered attention. Both the actor and the
rapper
in me compete with each other and vie to do better than the other. It’s great because both are an extension of me, so I’m happy competing with myself,” he replies, adding, “Rapping took off, and people forgot that I was also an actor. Hopefully, ‘Maidaan’ will bring attention back to my acting career.”
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For the time being, he is juggling between music and acting. Giving us a glimpse of what lies ahead for him, he says, “My song, ‘Kar De Kaa’, was released recently. I have also shot for a film titled ‘Sumo Didi’ revolving around India’s first female sumo wrestler. There are lots of music and films in the pipeline, making it an exciting period.”
