Not only fashion—Disha Patani turns heads with her high-flying kicks and fearless flair for martial arts too.
Our society has long conditioned us to associate certain traits with specific genders. Bollywood, being a reflection of that society, isn’t immune to these stereotypes. For decades, mainstream cinema has depicted men as strong, action-packed heroes, while women are boxed into roles of beauty, grace, or helplessness. The heroine is often the one waiting to be saved, while the hero gets all the applause for being the protector—reinforcing the idea that strength belongs to men. Needless to say, it's a pattern rooted deeply in patriarchy. And that’s why someone like Disha Patani often gets boxed into just her fashion and bold photos. Not many know that Disha is a trained martial artist who has worked hard at her craft—and in doing so, she has inspired countless young women to see strength as beautiful too. While Tiger Shroff is hailed as Bollywood’s martial arts poster boy, Disha barely gets a mention in the same breath.
So today, as Disha celebrates her 33rd birthday, let’s recognize her journey with martial arts, how she has inspired young women, and why she deserves a lot more credit than she gets.
Growing up in Bareilly, Disha developed a passion for movement at a very young age. Besides dance, she was quite into action too. She first explored it through gymnastics. Later, during her teenage modeling days, she discovered MMA and kickboxing—and the rest, as they say, is history.
Long before her debut in 'Baaghi', she was already training hard, throwing punches, and all. Later, in interviews, she said what she learned through martial arts made her “feel safe, empowered, and calm.”
(Credit: dishapatani)
Disha’s social media profiles are a masterclass in martial arts motivation. With millions of followers, her feed is full of high-energy videos: 360‑degree flying kicks, flawless backflips, weighted deadlifts, and full-body combos.
One mid‑week training video featuring her perfect kickboxing form quickly made rounds in social media, praised for its coordination, stamina, and confidence boost benefits. In another viral clip earlier this year, she faced her instructor in a dramatic MMA sequence—with kicks, punches, and ground control that proves she’s not just another celebrity figure.
(Credit: dishapatani)
But it’s her captions that make an impression. She’ll share “Day 1 of basics” or “Need more practice,” reminding fans that even she isn’t perfect—and that effort is everything. Her relatability encourages women to leave their comfort zones and embrace strength training alongside elements like MMA, heavy lifting, and weightlifting—all of which challenge outdated fitness stereotypes.
When 'Baaghi 2' came out, critics couldn’t stop talking about the action. Few noticed Disha had been training in that style for years already. 'Malang' added some heat, but it was during her prep for 'Yodha' and 'Ek Villain Returns' that the fire truly came through.
Behind the scenes, her trainers have said she never misses workouts—even during holidays. While many stars hire body doubles for combat scenes, Disha insists on doing the groundwork herself.
And not just in films. In life.
On World Martial Arts Day, she wrote, “Martial arts has been my savior—for physical and mental wellness.”
Gyms across Mumbai and Delhi began noticing post-2020 more women signing up for kickboxing, self-defense, and strength classes—not for aesthetics, but for confidence. And when asked "What inspired you?", many answered, “I saw Disha Patani doing it.”
(Credit: boincome)
Disha made martial arts look cool—but more importantly, possible. For the college girl fighting anxiety. For the mother reclaiming her body. For the teenager who wanted more than a treadmill. Her message is that feminine strength isn’t just graceful. It can be dangerous too—and that’s not a bad thing.
Disha's martial arts skills have been overlooked. Because in Bollywood (read India), men throwing punches become heroes, while women doing the same often get tagged as “trying to act tough.” When the world writes headlines about who she is dating, she is in the gym, deadlifting and landing mid-air spin kicks. And today, she is the rare female star who’s turned her love for martial arts into a movement—without ever screaming for attention.
