Diesel star Harish Kalyan shares haunting survival story behind the scenes

While preparing for the shoot of Diesel, actor Harish Kalyan encountered a story so harrowing it stayed with him long after the cameras rolled. In a recent conversation with Sudhir Srinivasan, Harish recounted a chilling tale he learned from a retired fisherman – one that underscored nature’s cruelty, human endurance, and the fragility of life.

Harish explained that, during the film’s pre-production, the team spent a few days at sea to acclimatize themselves to maritime conditions and stave off seasickness. It was during this time that the 70 year old fisherman shared his astonishing survival journey: years earlier, his boat had capsized amid a storm and drifted toward the Bangladesh border. Stranded in open waters for nearly 48 days, he ultimately survived by drinking his own urine, since ingesting seawater would have hastened his dehydration and demise.

Harish described the moment as deeply humbling. The fisherman not only narrated the ordeal, but also introduced Harish to the man himself: emaciated and frail, yet alive and healthy today. “He was skin and bones when rescued,” Harish said, “but he lived. Hearing that, I realized how blessed I am.”

Diesel, directed by Shanmugam Muthusamy, features Athulyaa Ravi, Vinay Rai, Sai Kumar, Ananya, Karunaas, and others in pivotal roles. The trailer for Diesel bursts to life with razor sharp visuals, explosive action set pieces, and hints of a brutal revenge war within the crude oil mafia. Harish Kalyan’s transformation into a fierce action hero is underlined by betrayals, gritty power plays, and raw vengeance. The film releases worldwide on October 17th, joined by the Diwali weekend spectacle.