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How Drew Neal got B-Town’s stars to develop their boxing skills
Updated On: 16 June, 2021 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia Lulla
Former world kickboxing champion Drew Neal discusses his seven-year journey of teaching Bollywood’s brightest to punch way above their weight, both on and off screen
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Drew Neal is also training Arjun Kapoor for `Ek Villain Returns`. Pics/Instagram
Before a spate of Bollywood offerings began to come his way in 2013, Drew Neal was running a successful training company in the UK. Being unfamiliar with the Indian film industry, the kickboxing champion wasn’t easily lured, until Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor’s offering, `Mirzya` seemed to hold promise. Citing the three-month contract as an “adventure and an opportunity to visit a country I had always wanted to see”, Neal agreed. Seven years later, he has expanded his foothold in India, working with Bollywood’s top brass to develop their boxing skills, both on and off-screen.
Neal’s name is currently prominently associated with Farhan Akhtar, who has been learning from the trainer for his upcoming boxing-drama, `Toofaan`. As has been with all athletic coaches mid-day has connected with to discuss Akhtar’s sports films, Neal too agrees that there isn’t scope to question the actor’s diligence. “It was clear that Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan had a relationship from a previous project that they had worked on. Rakeysh’s trust in what Farhan could produce, physically, was tried and tested, and it was evident to me how much of a hard-worker he really was,” Neal shares. Even then, despite his meticulousness, which was only supported by his athletic frame, training him for the part was no mean feat. “Playing the part did not come naturally to him. We had to work painstakingly on his form in order to make him look and feel like a boxer. No matter how athletic one is, skills are learnt through practice and perseverance.”
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