Abhimanyu Dassani creates buzz at TIFF with 'Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota'

Abhimanyu Dassani made a strong impression at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with his debut film Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, which was presented in the festival's popular Midnight Madness section.

Directed by Vasan Bala, the film is a fantasy action thriller rather than a conventional Bollywood masala entertainer. It follows Surya, a young man born with a rare inability to feel physical pain, who sets out to test his limits by taking on 100 opponents through martial arts.

Dassani, son of veteran actress Bhagyashree and Himalaya Dassani, plays the central character and underwent extensive physical and mental preparation for the demanding role.

Speaking ahead of the film's screening, the 28-year-old actor revealed that he had gained around six kg for the part and underwent eight months of intensive training. His preparation included martial arts, yoga, swimming, stick fighting and meditation, with training sessions lasting up to six hours a day.

He also deliberately isolated himself for three months before filming to understand Surya, a character who is socially awkward and largely withdrawn.

"I also spent three months in isolation before the shooting because my character Surya doesn't speak to anyone. It helped me a lot," Dassani said, adding that the experience allowed him to introspect and connect with the character.

His journey into acting was not straightforward. With his parents initially reluctant to see him enter the uncertain world of films, Dassani began working as an entrepreneur at the age of 16. He later travelled to New York to study filmmaking but eventually realised that acting was what attracted him most.

His entry into Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota was equally unconventional. After seeing a social media post in 2016 about a film looking for a martial arts actor, he established a martial arts training centre with 50 students under trainer Vikas Barua. He subsequently went for the audition but had to wait several days before meeting Bala.

According to Dassani, he eventually underwent auditions for nearly 30 days before being selected for the role.

The actor credited Bala's faith in him for helping him tackle the unusual character, particularly because Surya's limited speech and emotional expression required him to communicate largely through physical performance.

Despite making his debut with an unconventional action film, Dassani said he remains open to different kinds of cinema. He cited his admiration for Govinda and expressed a desire to work across Bollywood, regional cinema and streaming platforms, regardless of whether the role is a lead part or a smaller appearance.

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota also stars Radhika Madan and was filmed in Mumbai over 55 days. The film marks Bala's second appearance at TIFF, following his 2012 film Peddlers.

For Dassani, the TIFF screening provided an international platform for a debut that combines martial arts, comedy and unconventional storytelling, while also introducing a new actor willing to take a physically and creatively demanding route into Bollywood.