With his latest project, “Dunki,” unfolding on the silver screen, athletics coach Melwyn Crasto secures a unique accolade—he has had the distinct opportunity to train the renowned trio of Bollywood’s leading Khans. In a candid chat, Crasto elucidates his role in sculpting cinematic sequences that resonate with authenticity.
For a budding athlete at the starting blocks and a seasoned actor portraying an athlete on film, the requirements might diverge but the dedication remains analogous. This fact holds a poignancy for athletics coach Melwyn Crasto, who was handpicked by director Rajkumar Hirani to prepare Shah Rukh Khan and the cast of “Dunki” for a pivotal running scene. Crasto recollects being briefed on the perimeters of the task; the scene did not request technical finesse but authentic portrayal. The sequence involved a 400-metre dash amongst characters set against the backdrop of a rustic Punjab village fair, not the typical synthetic track but a challenging, uneven terrain replete with mud and stones.
Upon their first interaction, Shah Rukh Khan reminisced about his youthful days as a sprinter, boasting a hundred-metre dash time that impressed Crasto. Khan’s history suggested an inherent athleticism that Crasto leveraged, pushing the actor to engage in repeated takes of the racing scene with commendable stamina and spirit.
Training the Bollywood icon began with stringent warm-up routines to avert possible injuries—a priority for the athletic coach. Stretching exercises, tailored for the hamstrings, leg muscles, and shoulders, formed the crux of the preparation, followed by targeted running techniques. Khan was coached on the nuances of overtaking competitors, maneuvering turns, and pacing curves which were elemental for the cinematic sprint.
Transcending his collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, Melwyn Crasto shares his experience of working with Hrithik Roshan, an actor with a physique seemingly carved for athletic endeavors. Initially approached to coach his children, the rapport between Crasto and Roshan evolved into a full-fledged mentor-student dynamic. Adapting to the rigors of athleticism beyond conventional gym routines, Roshan imbibed the essence of sprints, throws, and jumps under Crasto’s guidance. Despite physical hurdles such as knee and back issues, Roshan manifested agility and speed, steering clear of high-impact movements but mastering the ones his body permitted.
Another feather in Crasto’s cap emerged in the form of training Vicky Kaushal for “Sam Bahadur” action sequences. The coach traced the actor’s journey from core strength building to mastering the technique-laden high jump. Over four months, Kaushal’s regimen included various jumps, plyometric drills, and agility exercises, translating his running momentum into a successful high jump—all executed with careful attention to the actor’s bodily capabilities and safety.
Crasto’s devotion to his craft never overshadowed his role as Central Railway’s athletic coach, and he expresses sincere gratitude toward the institution for allowing him to delve into the world of Bollywood training and choreography.
In each assignment, Crasto approached his tutelage with a nuanced understanding of the actor’s capabilities and cinematic necessities, consistently striving for a seamless fusion of realistic athleticism and compelling storytelling. With stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Vicky Kaushal under his wing, each achieving their objectives with dexterity, Coach Crasto stands out as the unsung architect behind the electrifying sports portrayals Bollywood audiences admire on screen.
