Kitao Sakurai on casting Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter: “He’s more Dhalsim than Dhalsim”

October 15, 2026 - 3:14 PM IST

Director Kitao Sakurai has spoken about casting Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim in Paramount Pictures and Legendary Entertainment’s Street Fighter, which releases in cinemas on Friday, October 16, across India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

Kitao Sakurai on casting Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter: “He’s more Dhalsim than Dhalsim”

Based on CAPCOM’s popular video game franchise, Street Fighter brings several of its well-known World Warriors to the big screen in a live-action adaptation. Among the characters featured in the film is Dhalsim, one of the franchise’s recognisable fighters.

Vidyut Jammwal, who will make his Hollywood debut with the action film, takes on the role of Dhalsim, bringing his martial arts experience to the character. Director Kitao Sakurai recently discussed the casting and explained why he felt the character needed to be part of the adaptation.

Recalling the initial conversations about including Dhalsim in the film, Sakurai said there had been some uncertainty within the team. However, he was convinced that the character was an essential part of the Street Fighter universe and wanted to ensure that he was represented in a way that audiences would appreciate.

The director also spoke about how Jammwal’s involvement brought a different perspective to the role. According to Sakurai, the actor was keen to use the opportunity to introduce audiences around the world to Dhalsim’s origins and give the character a portrayal rooted in authenticity.

Praising Jammwal’s interpretation of the character, Sakurai said, “He’s more Dhalsim than Dhalsim, and he owns it, and he’s so proud of it. He’s bringing so much realness and authenticity to it.”

Sakurai further reflected on the way the character had been conceived, acknowledging that some aspects of Dhalsim’s original portrayal could be viewed as stereotypical. He said, “The character might have started as a sort of stereotype”; however, he believed that casting the right person could help bring greater authenticity to the role rather than abandoning the character altogether. The aim, he explained, was to celebrate Dhalsim while approaching his portrayal with an understanding of the character’s background.

With Jammwal stepping into the role, Street Fighter marks a new chapter in the actor’s career as he makes his Hollywood debut. The film is scheduled to release in Indian cinemas on Friday, October 16, in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

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