Harshvardhan Kapoor trained in horse-riding for two years for Mirzya

Actor Sonam Kapoor’s brother, Harshvardhan Kapoor, who makes his debut with Mirzya, already has his eyes set on a long innings. Unlike those who start their careers with relatively easier roles, Harshvardhan chose one that demanded prepping for close to two years in advance.

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The story, a modern day adaptation of Mirza Sahiban’s epic romance, required Harsh to master the art of horse riding. Our source reveals, “In 2013, Harsh first trained in Delhi for four hours a day for six months. The makers decided that Harsh needed to look more professional so he was sent to Seattle for further training. He underwent boot camp training at a farm for five weeks under the guidance of Katie Sterns — one of the best trainers and riders in the world. This included living on the farm and looking after the horses at the stable as well as cleaning and feeding them.”

Talking about the effort, Harsh says, “I prepped for this film for one and half years. I play a stable boy who’s a part-time polo player, and then is a warrior — both involve being an expert on the horse. I had never been on a horse before so when I came to Mahalaxmi race course (in Mumbai) after six months of training in Delhi, I was good, but nowhere near where I was supposed to be. After this, I trained with Katie Sterns, and lived the resident stable boy’s life for six months. Although this was physical preparation, I was also isolated. And I used that as emotional impetus while doing intense scenes in the film.”

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