Highlights
- Shraddha Kapoor revealed that she suffered a muscle tear while filming dance sequences for her upcoming film Eetha.
- The actor underwent extensive training to portray a Lavani dancer, with veteran performer Shakuntala Nagarkar helping the team understand the traditional dance form.
- Directed by Laxman Utekar, Eetha draws inspiration from the life of legendary Maharashtra folk performer Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar.
Shraddha Kapoor's preparation for her upcoming film Eetha came with an unexpected physical challenge. The actor revealed that she suffered a muscle tear while performing dance sequences on set, as she trained to portray a Lavani dancer in the Laxman Utekar directorial.
Speaking at the film's trailer launch in Mumbai on Friday, Shraddha opened up about immersing herself in the world of Lavani and learning about a cultural tradition that was new to her.
"I met very interesting people. I went into a completely different world. There was also a mishap that happened while dancing on set. I had a muscle tear. But the team was so supportive. We had to stop the shoot because of his love and care, I could get back to shooting. So I had to understand Lavani; I had to practice a lot," she said.
The actor also acknowledged the support she received from the team while recovering from the injury and returning to filming.
Shraddha Kapoor undergoes Lavani training for Eetha
Director Laxman Utekar spoke about the efforts made to ensure an authentic portrayal of Lavani, a traditional folk dance form from Maharashtra.
He revealed that the team organized a week-long workshop with veteran Lavani dancer Shakuntala Nagarkar to understand the nuances of the performance style.
"We had got a very senior Lavani dancer, Shakuntala Nagarkar, to our office. With her, we did a one-week workshop just to understand the aadaye and nazakat," Utekar said.
The film draws inspiration from the life of Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar, one of Maharashtra's most celebrated Tamasha and Lavani performers. However, Utekar clarified that Eetha is not a direct biopic and does not attempt to tell only Vithabai's story.
The filmmaker explained that the project takes inspiration from incidents documented in the book Tamasha: Vithabaichya Ayushyache.
Shraddha echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the film's wider focus on folk performers.
"As he said, this is not just Vithabai's story. It is a story of all those Tamasha artists, thousands of them," she said.
What to know about Shraddha Kapoor's Eetha
Born in Pandharpur in 1935, Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar came from a family of folk performers and began performing at a young age. She went on to become a prominent figure in Maharashtra's Tamasha and Lavani traditions, with a career marked by artistic achievements and personal struggles.
Produced by Dinesh Vijan, Laxman Utekar and Karishma Sharma, Eetha is backed by Maddock Films and Kathputli Creations. The project reunites Utekar with Maddock Films following films such as Luka Chuppi, Mimi, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Chhaava.
For Shraddha, the film marks another collaboration with the production house after the success of the Stree franchise.
The ensemble cast includes Randeep Hooda, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Nana Patekar, Siddharth Jadhav, Anant Joshi, Akshara Singh and Ulka Gupta. The music has been composed by Ajay-Atul.
Eetha is scheduled to release in theaters on December 4, 2026.
