Akshay taught martial arts to Deepika for CC2C

While Deepika Padukone performed all her stunts for Nikhil Advani's Chandni Chowk To China (CC2C) on her own, she feels it was co-star Akshay Kumar who helped her perform better for the action sequences, apart from Chinese and local trainers.

Says Deepika, "I find it creatively satisfying if I have done the stunts (in CC2C) myself when it comes to learning any craft. Though I have to add that Akki taught me a lot about action. Initially my body would tense up a lot while doing certain stunts so he would keep telling me to ease my body. He said action is like a dance. When done properly, it should look graceful. I am very grateful to Akki for his advice as it helped me to loosen up."

Deepika says she also had to learn jujitsu for Chandni Chowk To China. "I had to tone and bulk up my arms and legs. One has to be very physically fit do great action scenes and my training as an athlete helped me lot. I followed a high protein diet and had local trainers training me in jujitsu a Japanese form of martial arts."

That wasn't all for Deepika. She adds, "I would train for eight hours every day for four months with trainers from China. They came after I got trained in jujitsu. The Chinese trainers helped me train with cables, wires and knives. After hanging on cables continuously for eight hours. My body would be so painful and sore that I had to call my masseur for a massage every day. The pain has paid off today."

What is jujitsu?

Jujitsu is a martial art, which reflects the movements of the attacker back upon him or her. It has been practised in Japan since the sixteenth century, although Jujitsu has its origins in Chinese martial arts. Jujitsu uses a series of joint locks, small weaponry, and defensive tactics in combination with conserved energy to neutralise an attacker. Many other martial arts such as Judo and Aikido have their roots in Jujitsu.