Who isn’t a Mahendra Singh Dhoni fan,” exclaims Janhvi Kapoor, when we sit down for a chat before the release of Mr & Mrs Mahi. The upcoming drama sees the actor play a doctor, whose husband—essayed by Rajkummar Rao—discovers her potential to be a cricketer. The film’s title is fitting in a country that has legions of Dhoni fans, and a timely one at that, considering the buzz that the cricketer might officially retire from the sport soon. “Don’t say that,” interjects Kapoor, whose admiration and respect for the game has grown manifold in the past two years. “I did intensive physical prep. I’d go to either Bhandup or Powai for net practice. The gym and conditioning workout wrung me out. In the evenings, I would be back for another two hours of practice. I dislocated both my shoulders. If this is what merely two years did to me, I can’t imagine where Thala [Dhoni] is at,” she smiles.

But the hard work paid off. The actor is jubilant that she earned director Sharan Sharma’s nod of approval while filming the climactic match. “We attempted some of Suryakumar Yadav’s shots, and at one point, Sharan said, ‘You got his scoop shot right!’ He doesn’t let you go easy. A compliment from him is a big deal.”