Dhairya Karwa’s tall and lean frame often conceals the alterations he makes to his physique for films. However, in going from beef and bulky for Uri: The Surgical Strike, to lithe for 83, and subsequently Gehraiyaan, he admits his body took a beating. “For 83, apart from losing muscle mass, I also had to learn a new sport in cricket, and learn to bowl with the wrong hand,” says Karwa, who played the part of Ravi Shastri in the Kabir Khan-directed venture. Karwa indulged in the process of learning a different body language for the film, but, at the end of the process, his shoulder injuries had begun to obstruct his daily life.
 
“While casually indulging in a game one day, I felt something in my shoulder snap. On watching me, the physiotherapist instantly asked if I had been playing cricket. I could notice that my body was getting injured. Since the movements that I had subjected my shoulders to were unnatural, they were in bad shape. Because I had also lost a lot of weight, I had become prone to injuries. Even when I resumed training after the film, I would have to pause my routine again to film Gehraiyaan, in which I couldn’t sport an overtly muscular look. So, every transformation took a toll on the body. At the end of it all, I just wanted to be fit again. I wanted to not only look aesthetically [superior], but also be injury-free. I also wanted to achieve such a level of fitness that should any physically demanding role come my way, I would be capable of easily [moulding] myself.”  

Sports played a vital role in Karwa’s life. He was accustomed to waking up early for basket ball sessions throughout his school and college life, and had maintained his physique during his time spent in modelling. Essentially, Karwa was familiar with the essentials of fitness training, and hence knew that in order to heal himself, he needed  to “relay my foundation”.