Acclaimed director Mari Selvaraj opens up about his ambitious sports drama "Bison," revealing the extraordinary lengths taken to achieve authenticity in portraying Kabaddi on screen. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation, Selvaraj discusses his decision to have lead actor Dhruv undergo two years of intensive Kabaddi training, working alongside real professional players from across the country. The director emphasizes his commitment to showing the sport's raw, unfiltered essence rather than the staged versions typically seen in cinema, drawing from his own childhood experiences playing Kabaddi in rural Tamil Nadu.

The interview delves into Selvaraj's unique filmmaking philosophy, where he prioritizes emotional truth over technical perfection, often discovering his shots organically on location rather than pre-planning them. Dhruv shares his transformative journey from actor to genuine Kabaddi player, describing how the grueling physical preparation and 24-hour shooting schedules became a way of life. The conversation also explores themes of rural heroism, the challenges of bringing authentic stories to mainstream cinema, and Selvaraj's responsibility as a filmmaker to create content he can proudly share with his own family.

In this behind-the-scenes exclusive from THR India, Vishal Menon visits the set of Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies, the highly anticipated Malayalam action-comedy about three brothers and a crew of misfits who start a WWE-style wrestling tournament called "Friday Fight Night" in Fort Kochi. Director Adhvaith Nayar and creative producer Shihan Shoukath discuss the two-year journey of bringing their scrappy underdog idea to the screen, while the ensemble cast opens up about the grueling physical demands of bringing costumed wrestling to Indian cinema. Roshan Mathew, who plays ex-convict Vetri, and Arjun Ashokan, whose character Savio fights under the ring name Loco Lobo, reveal the intensity of their two-month training window with trainer Shravan Satya, learning how to fall safely, execute acrobatic moves, and perform signature WWE maneuvers. Arjun, a lifelong fan of The Undertaker and John Cena, contrasts this experience with his 58-day fight schedule on Ajagajantharam, explaining that Chatha Pacha's choreography demands far more precision.

Vishak Nair, who plays the ego-driven antagonist Cherian using capoeira-inspired techniques, and Ishan Shoukath, whose character Little delivers the signature sweet chin music kick, discuss the six to seven months of intensive preparation including parkour and mobility work that helped the cast bond before cameras rolled. The conversation turns to Mammootty, whose electrifying cameo as Walter, the former captain whose wrestling dream inspired the group, is captured in footage of the superstar arriving on set with a bike and baseball bat. Arjun, who has spent close to 100 days on various sets with Mammootty over the years, admits the nervousness never fades, describing it not as fear but as respect born from deep affection. This marks the first time Arjun is shooting with Mammootty after the icon's break from cinema, and he confirms the legend's energy remains exactly the same.