Anshuman Jha recently took some time away from his busy schedule to pay a visit to Bruce Lee’s grave while filming the second episode of Hyena in New York. According to the actor, he will cherish this encounter and memory forever.
He posted a video to Instagram describing his “pilgrimage” to the grave of Bruce Lee, his “biggest inspiration and mentor.” When asked why he says this, he responds, “Because it was a spiritual experience for me. I sensed energy entering the room. I knelt down and felt content. And it was noteworthy to do so a week before the anniversary of his passing. Although it sounds absurd, it actually made the call. I was required to show respect. Even though he passed away 50 years ago, we are still talking about him today. This is something that normal people simply cannot do.
It’s odd to think that I have such a strong bond with someone who passed away ten years before I was born. However, Bruce Lee’s life, philosophy, and legacy have personally motivated me. It was like making a pilgrimage to his final resting place. Additionally, doing so a week before his death anniversary was special (July 20). They succeeded despite the odds, just as I have my entire career as an actor, so they have inspired me and continue to inspire me as heroes on a human level. You can still tell when you look at his image that it is not a competition because of his abilities as an actor, martial artist, and simply as a human being. Simply continue to practice, be your best self, and flow. I practice that,” he claims.
He continues, “Training in Krav-Maga with the mindset that ‘the only rule is that there are no rules’ is his biggest influence. ” In reference to Bruce Lee’s influence on his work. I still believe that he held himself to a high standard of excellence. And the level of perfection attained is astounding. And his initial plan was for me to put in a lot of work in the gym so that I could handle every task on the set. No body doubles or shortcuts allowed. I don’t want to deceive the viewers. And up until I get some oxygen flowing, I don’t want to be slack or take it for granted.
He is practicing with Tshahi Shemesh, who previously instructed the Avengers cast in the Israeli martial art of Krav Maga, for the second episode of hyena. “I came here to train for Hyena 1 in 2021, and this is the second round with Tsahi. I’m so grateful to have had him as a teacher, a friend, and a mentor. Two years later, it feels overwhelming to be on the mat with him in New York City as he trains me to improve at Krav-Maga, which is the best of all worlds in terms of fighting,” he tells us. I was able to design action sequences for my upcoming projects, Hyena 2 thanks to his experience and rawness.