Vishy Ayyar interview: American Warrior actor on playing an MMA fighter in immigrant drama

The film brings together talents from India, America, and Latin America in this Hollywood-backed production. The stellar cast includes Omi Vaidya (the unforgettable ‘Chatur Ramalingam’ from 3 Idiots), action icon Danny Trejo (Machete), Veronica Falcón (Ozark), and Andrew Gray (the Red Ranger of Power Rangers Megaforce), who plays Jai’s fierce in-ring rival. In this interview to The Federal, Ayyar talks about the personal journey of creating American Warrior, its importance for South Asian representation in action roles, particularly in MMA, and how its underdog story resonates with people from all walks of life. Excerpts from the interview:

You conceived American Warrior in a dream back in 2013 and nurtured it for years. What was the most surreal moment for you on set, finally bringing this vision to life alongside such a talented cast?

Yes, I conceived the story in a dream around 2 or 3 in the morning and immediately ran to my computer to write it down. The most surreal moment came when I was in the hospital, just three or four days before shooting began. I had a catheter in my arm for administering antibiotics, and the highlight of that period was when the catheter was finally removed, allowing me to feel free again. Since it’s a fight movie, I channeled all my pent-up frustration into my boxing bag. That moment stood out as a highlight because I felt incredibly fortunate to be alive and able to film the movie.

The character of Jai Kumar is drawn from your own experiences but takes on a darker tinge in the film. How much of yourself did you put into Jai, and were there moments in writing or acting his journey that felt particularly difficult or therapeutic?

This is a beautiful question. As an actor, you always strive to find the character you’re playing within yourself. Yes, it was particularly therapeutic because the story is very, very loosely based on my own personal experiences. There was a time when I faced a significant business loss and was responsible for losing millions of dollars. The therapeutic aspect came from my real-life search for redemption, and this movie gave me an opportunity to work through that redemption. On a certain level — an unusual, deeply personal level — it felt therapeutic because I could live out those emotions and experiences through Jai’s journey. Playing Jai allowed me to confront and process the same emotions I faced in real life, which was truly healing.

Balancing acting, producing, and fighting in American Warrior must have been intense. How did you manage these multiple roles, and what kept you motivated, especially during challenging or exhausting moments?

Yes, doing all three roles was definitely challenging, but they happened at different stages. The most demanding part was the physical training — spending a year and a half training in MMA under a real UFC fighter was tough. Living as Jai for many years while the project was in development also had its own challenges. I wrote the story, but our director was the one who wrote the screenplay. Bringing all the elements together can be difficult, but you’re on such a high when your dream finally comes to life. Honestly, I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want the camera experience to stop. I just wanted to keep acting — it was absolutely beautiful.

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Just weeks before filming, you faced serious health issues but still pushed forward to make the movie happen. Can you walk us through that experience and share how it shaped or even deepened your portrayal of Jai?

Yes, it was a serious health concern. About 23 or 24 days before filming was set to begin, I went to Chicago to start training with the stunt team. By the third or fourth day, I began losing vision in my right eye. I rushed to the ER in Chicago and found out I had an autoimmune condition that happened to surface at that time, completely unrelated to the intense MMA training I was undergoing. The movie almost didn’t happen. 

It took 10 days for me to regain my vision, and then another 8 or 9 days were spent battling a deadly bacterial infection that nearly killed me. It was a crazy and intense period. However, I have a deep meditation practice, and this situation gave me an opportunity to lean into it. I used healing techniques and yoga to support my recovery. One mantra I kept repeating to myself was, I’m bigger. Bigger than my ambitions, bigger than being an actor, producer, or writer — bigger than everything I am seeking.

The film brings together an impressive mix of Indian-American and Latin-American stars. How important was this representation to you?

Representation with a Latina Indian-American lead is rare. This is probably one of the first times we’re seeing such a diverse cast in Hollywood. The impact could be phenomenal because it reflects the real America. I’ve always been adamant about increasing representation for underserved groups — whether it’s people with brown skin, black skin, or even regular Caucasians. That’s what America is: a melting pot. Why can’t art reflect that reality? From a representation standpoint, and particularly from an Indian-South Asian perspective, it’s a big deal. Indians very rarely get to see themselves as protagonists, especially in an action movie with big Hollywood stars. It almost never happens. This film is probably one of the first to make that happen, and we’re all honoured, excited, and looking forward to audiences enjoying it.

You’ve said that American Warrior is as much about internal battles as it is about physical combat. How did you ensure that the emotional weight of Jai’s story was as compelling as the scenes, and what did you want to underline most?

What we need to understand is that everyone goes through an internal war, and this war inside us is often more dangerous, compelling, and emotional than any battle in an MMA ring. In an MMA ring, when things get tough, you have the option to retreat. But when the fight is within your own mind, within your own consciousness, there’s no escape — it’s far more challenging. In India, the Bhagavad Gita speaks of the Kurukshetra, which isn’t just an external battlefield but an inner one we all face. How do we fight it? When we’re at our lowest, what do we do? These are questions everyone grapples with because, in a way, we’re all fighters inside. When I spoke to the team, I said, “Everyone is fighting this internal battle. When you’re down and out, seeking redemption, how will you turn things around? How will you change your life when the rug is pulled out from under your feet? That’s what the movie explores — the struggle, the self-discovery, and, ultimately, a journey toward self-actualisation.

The physicality required for MMA scenes must have been demanding. How did you train for the fight sequences, and were there any particularly memorable or gruelling moments during the shoot?

I trained under a real UFC fighter, an actual MMA professional, for a year and a half. It was probably one of the most gruelling experiences of my life, but, in a strange way, also incredibly rewarding. Almost every other week, I would throw my back out or nearly dislocate a toe — injuries were just part of the process during that intense training period. During shooting, it didn’t get any easier. In one of the scenes, the actor Andrew Grave, who plays the villain Marcus, was kneeing me in the rib cage while pinning his elbow against my face, which was being scraped against a metal cage. We did six takes of that scene. By the end of it, my face was bleeding from the scratches caused by the metal, and my ribs were nearly broken. But I felt it was necessary to bring that raw, gritty reality of a fighter’s pain to the screen. Yes, it was tough and challenging, but that’s how life is — a series of challenges. I loved living that character, enduring the struggle, and bringing that authenticity to the role. 

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Your own background is rich in theatre and languages, yet you chose to tell this story as a film. What made cinema the best medium for American Warrior, and how do you think your diverse skills shaped the movie?

Yes, I'm trained in theatre and languages, but my fundamental passion has always been movies and films. Fundamentally, I'm a storyteller, and film is probably the most effective medium for me to bring my stories to life. I always saw American Warrior as a film because my inspiration, motivation, and passion lie in acting — especially acting in films. I just love the big canvas that movies provide. Theatre is intellectual and soul-satisfying, but I love movies more. Languages and my diverse experiences all contribute to my perspective. It’s all about psychological understanding. I speak four or five languages fluently and probably understand around ten. Having lived on multiple continents, this has given me a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of various cultures and psychologies. I brought all of this to Jai’s character, and I hope it came through on screen.

Throughout your career, you’ve spoken about the lack of Indian representation in mainstream Hollywood. How does American Warrior fit into your vision for change?

American Warrior is a significant film in terms of representation. As I mentioned, it’s probably one of the first times you see an Indian South Asian lead protagonist in an action role, particularly in MMA. Most South Asians, Indians in America, have found success in comedy or drama, but you don’t see many of them in action roles. Jai’s character — my character — is probably one of the first, and there are a few, but not too many. So, this representation hopefully marks the start of something new. I’ve always viewed myself as just one of them. If I can break through and tell this story, and if I succeed, it’s a win for all South Asians.

Reflecting on the years of dedication that went into American Warrior, what does the film mean to you now that it’s being screened around the world, and how has the journey impacted you both as an actor and a person?

The film means everything to me. It’s my life; it’s been my blood, sweat, and tears for over 10 years. I’ve loved it, breathed it, and it’s brought me to my knees, but I’m also incredibly grateful. My heart is filled with gratitude. It’s been my baby, and with the help of so many great team members, we made this vision come to life. Starting with Naveen Chathapuram, the lead producer; Cristy Coors Beasley, my manager who eventually became a producer; and Rashaana Shah and Chaitra from Women and Cloud — these are the people who made it happen. I also want to give a shoutout to my director, Gustavo Martin, who wrote the screenplay based on the story I created. It’s this great team behind me, working together to bring this vision to life.

The level of dedication from everyone, relentlessly working together for years with no lack of enthusiasm, has been incredible. The movie has already been featured in 12 festivals across the US, won awards, and now it’s at IFFI. Wherever the film goes, people are having very positive reactions because it’s such an underdog story that everyone can relate to. At screenings, I’ve had people from various ethnicities come up to me and say, “Wow, this is my story.” White people, Black people, Asian people, Indians — everyone’s been telling me, “Oh my God, this is my story.” It’s universally relatable because it’s an underdog story, and we all feel like underdogs at some level. This movie is for underdogs, by an underdog.