Kunal Sharma : My Engineer Mind Helped Me Become a Fighter

Kunal Sharma’s journey from a lean, tech-savvy professional to a bulked-up MMA fighter is the stuff of film scripts. But for Kunal, it’s real life. The actor, who plays Vikram Ranwal in the upcoming action-drama Maqam, says the role pushed him to his physical and mental limits—and he wouldn’t have it any other way.  Shot across Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad, Kunal was part of almost every schedule. “I play Vikram Ranwal, known as the ‘King of the Ring’ in the underground fighting circuit,” he shares. “When I heard about the role, I was thrilled… but also terrified." The description demanded a massive, muscular body—a far cry from Kunal’s naturally lean frame. With limited time and a tight budget, hiring a personal trainer was out of the question. “I guess my engineer mind helped me a lot,” he laughs. “I enrolled in a fitness trainer and nutritionist course. While learning the theory, I applied it directly to my own transformation.” Within weeks, the results began to show. Kunal turned himself into a convincing fighter through relentless training and discipline. But building the body was just half the battle.  “The next challenge was creating the internal world of Vikram. I’m not an MMA fighter, and the climax had a 10-12 minute fight sequence in the ring,” he explains. “There wasn’t enough time to master the sport, so I focused on posture, stance, and studying MMA through global cinema” On set, Kunal leaned on every resource—friends from the combat world, online footage, and the support of action director Amin Khatib. The shoot took a toll on him physically. “I had bruises, broken bones, and it took me 4–6 weeks to fully recover after the climax fight,” he says. “But after the trailer dropped, and I started getting praise, all that pain vanished.”  With Maqam, Kunal has not only transformed his body—but also proven the power of passion, preparation, and perseverance. Kunal Sharma also acted in fimls like Saas Bahu Flamigo and Rahasya.