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Movie Name: Sumo Didi
Directed by: Jayant Rohatgi
Starring: Shriyam Bhagnani, Chaitanya Sharma, Anubha Fatehpura, Nitesh Pandey, Raghav Dheer, Nilanjan Datta
Genre: Family, Drama, Biography
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Running Time: 118 Minutes
Language: Hindi
Rating:
Production Company: Fresh Lime Films, Jio Studios, Hakuhodo’s MA&TH Entertainment
Budget: Rs.- crore
The Hindi language film tells the story of Hetal Dave, a middle class girl from a conservative household who discovers Sumo Wrestling by chance and defies all odds to turn her perceived weakness into strength and breaks the glass ceiling. The film is inspired by the life of India’s first and only female sumo wrestler Hetal Dave.
Sumo Didi: Movie Overview
Sumo Didi is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language sports biographical film on the life of Hetal Dave, India’s only professional female sumo wrestler. The film is the directorial debut of Jayant Rohatgi, and stars Shriyam Bhagnani in title role with Chaitnya Sharma, Anubha Fatehpura, Nitesh Pandey, and Raghav Dheer. The film has been showcased at multiple film festival including 2023 Tokyo International Film Festival, 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival, and 24th New York Indian Film Festival.
The rousing biopic follows Hetal who sets out for Japan to endure rigorous training and discover a potential she never knew she had. The film premiered at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival. The film is produced by Fresh Lime Films, Jio Studios, and Japanese advertising giant Hakuhodo’s MA&TH or Marching Ants & Trigger Happy Entertainment. It is the only Indian film to be showcased in 2 different film festivals in 2024.
Sumo Didi has been shot extensively in Japan, where sumo wrestling is the national sport; and in Mumbai, Kolkata of India, where it is not even a recognized sport.
Movie Trailer:
Movie Review:
A chokeslam against body shaming
Story:
Inspired by Hetal Dave, India’s first professional female sumo wrestler, the film follows her fight against societal prejudice, body shaming and financial hardships to achieve international sporting recognition.
Review:
When society sees a woman’s body as a limitation, Sumo Didi turns it into her greatest strength. Inspired by real-life sumo wrestler Hetal Dave, the film follows a young woman who challenges societal prejudice, familial expectations and financial hardships to pursue an unconventional sporting dream. Director Jayant Rohatgi steers clear of a conventional, victory-driven sports drama, instead focusing on the physical and emotional struggles of a woman determined to reclaim her identity and prove her worth.
Shriyam Bhagnani delivers a compelling, committed performance as Hetal, undergoing a remarkable physical transformation to embody the wrestler. Her increased weight and muscle mass, along with her efforts to master the technicalities of sumo wrestling, lend authenticity to her athletic journey. Beyond the physical transformation, she captures Hetal’s fierce determination, vulnerability and quiet defiance, making her battle against body shaming and social judgment relatable. Though a few emotional passages could have been more powerful, Bhagnani’s sincerity and screen presence give the film its emotional anchor.
Set across Kolkata and Japan, Sumo Didi traces Hetal’s journey from a conservative Marwari household to the demanding world of professional sumo wrestling. Her pursuit is about more than sporting achievement; it is also a fight against patriarchy, gender bias and society’s narrow expectations of women. The film effectively explores how qualities perceived as weaknesses can become strengths when channelled in the right direction. Rather than attempting a comprehensive biographical account of Hetal Dave’s life, it focuses on her resilience and determination to carve out a place in a world that repeatedly tries to define her by her appearance.
The writing by Akash Chawla, Arunava Joy Sengupta and Nikhil Sachan establishes the premise without unnecessary delay. The narrative balances training montages with light-hearted moments, keeping the proceedings engaging and accessible. The training sequences are particularly effective, highlighting the discipline, perseverance and mental conditioning required to compete in such a demanding sport. The screenplay occasionally loses momentum midway, and certain emotional developments could have been explored more deeply. Unlike Dangal, which builds towards rousing, crowd-pleasing moments, Sumo Didi adopts a more restrained approach. While this lends the story a degree of realism, it also leaves some pivotal moments short of their full dramatic potential.
The supporting cast adds warmth and emotional depth. Chaitanya Sharma, as Hetal’s friend Akshat, brings welcome humour and companionship. Their easy banter provides relief from the prejudice Hetal encounters, while Akshat’s ability to see beyond her appearance reinforces the film’s message of acceptance. Late Nitesh Pandey and Anubha Fatehpuriya portray her parents with contrasting attitudes. Her father’s encouragement offers emotional reassurance, while her mother’s fixation on weight loss and marriage reflects the social pressures imposed on women. Raghav Dhir, as Hetal’s younger brother, adds another layer of support, while Kazumasa Sato’s sumo mentor underscores the importance of mental strength alongside physical preparation.
Sumo Didi works best as a story of self-acceptance and resilience, with Shriyam Bhagnani’s committed performance lending weight to Hetal’s journey. Despite occasional pacing issues and missed emotional opportunities, this cocktail of vedesi chokeslam and desi dhobhi pachad makes for an engaging, empathetic sports drama that challenges social conventions and leaves a positive impression.
