Rashmika Mandanna has opened up about the punishing physical work behind MYSAA, revealing that filming its underwater fight required her to spend about eight hours in the water during a shooting day.
Speaking at the film’s teaser launch on September 20, she joked that she had initially expected the sequence to be manageable because she knew how to swim, before discovering how demanding the schedule would be. “Am I a fish?” she quipped while describing the experience.
Her latest account adds detail to production updates released in July, when the team said the underwater action block was filmed over two days and required nearly 20 hours underwater in total. Reports at the time also said Mandanna performed the sequence without an action double.
Waterfalls, Mud And Barefoot Action
The underwater fight was only one part of the physical workload Mandanna described. She said filming in Kerala involved running through difficult hill terrain, working barefoot in rough areas and performing action around waterfalls. She recalled feeling unusually nervous before going to the set because each day brought another demanding setup.
Mandanna also spoke about a mud fight sequence in which her body became heavily covered in wet soil, making even basic movement difficult. She said director Rawindra Pulle wanted the physical conditions on screen to feel real, which meant several sequences were performed under demanding outdoor conditions rather than being softened for the shoot.
The production also took a physical toll away from the underwater block. Mandanna previously revealed that a tendon in her right hip detached while she was working on a dance portion for MYSAA, forcing her into a recovery period. At the teaser event, she again referred to the hip injury while discussing how physically taxing the film had become.
MYSAA Teaser Shows The Action On Screen
The newly released teaser gives audiences their first extended look at why the shoot demanded so much from its lead actor. Mandanna plays a Gond woman, with the footage showing her fighting underwater, moving through rugged terrain and taking on opponents in violent close-range action. The film is written and directed by Rawindra Pulle, with Jakes Bejoy composing the music and Kecha handling the action.
Produced by Unformula Films, MYSAA is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 27, 2026. The teaser places the underwater combat at the centre of the film’s action identity, while Mandanna’s comments now explain the lengthy physical work required to put those scenes on screen.