Vidyut Jammwal Is More Dhalsim Than Dhalsim, Says Director

Vidyut Jammwal is stepping into one of the most deceptively tricky characters in the Street Fighter universe — and, if director Kitao Sakurai is right, the Indian action star is not just playing Dhalsim. He is the character.

A casting choice built on real skills

Sakurai, who earlier brought games to the screen with episodes of Twisted Metal in 2023, said Jammwal’s martial-arts rigour and years of physical discipline made the choice feel obvious. “He’s more Dhalsim than Dhalsim, and he owns it, and he’s so proud of it,” the director told Filmfare, adding that Jammwal is bringing “so much realness and authenticity to it.”

Jammwal says the preparation never stopped. “I’ve been training since the age of three,” he said, “so I’ve been prepared to do this role all my life.”

Moving past the stereotype

Sakurai also touched on how Dhalsim has been read over the years. “The character might have started as a sort of stereotype,” he said, framing the adaptation as a chance to let the fighter feel more rounded and human.

In a separate conversation, Sakurai underlined how central Jammwal’s Dhalsim is to the film. “It’s not Street Fighter without Dhalsim,” he said, describing Jammwal as “a martial arts yoga master who’s devoted his life to these ancient ways and traditions.”

Why it matters for Indian film fans

This is a full-budget Hollywood franchise release arriving in Indian theatres with an Indian performer at its centre of gravity. For Hindi film fans, it is also a reminder of how far the action star as global export has come — from being treated as an exotic extra to being cast for specific physical and spiritual authenticity.

Sakurai’s range is telling: he has directed episodes of Beef, Butterfly and Dave, picking projects where offbeat characters are handled with care. That instinct appears to have shaped how he approached Dhalsim.

Paramount Pictures is releasing Street Fighter across India on October 16, 2026 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, which makes the adaptation unusually accessible for a Hollywood title.

• Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim, with director Kitao Sakurai praising his authenticity.
• Jammwal has trained since the age of three and calls the role lifelong preparation.
• Street Fighter opens in Indian cinemas on October 16 in four languages.

Source: Filmfare