(Credit: Netflix)

Will Smith has done so many epic films in his career, but there was one character where he truly forgot himself and immersed himself in it. It was none other than Michael Mann’s 2001 biopic Ali, where Smith played the role of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

From swagger to shuffle, the actor drowned himself in the role and went through immense physical training to portray Ali precisely on screen. He went through immense physical training to embody the legendary boxer’s persona. He gained 30 pounds of muscle, trained like a pro fighter for over a year and studied Ali’s speech patterns and spirit for over a year.

After this, it was inevitable for the actor to get nominated for various accolades and Oscar nominations. However, there was one moment during the filming that left a lasting impression, that too quite literally.

During a pivotal scene, Smith faced off against Michael Bentt. Bentt was a former WBO heavyweight champion who was cast as Sonny Liston. Moving ahead, in a bid for authenticity, the actors engaged in a real sparring session. Their scenes were real punches and very little pulled back. And it was during one of these sessions that Will Smith experienced what he later described as the hardest hit he’d ever taken on a movie set.

During one of these sessions, Bentt landed a shot that still lives rent-free in Smith’s spine. Last year, Smith appeared on an episode of Hot Wings and revealed this trivia about the film. During a fight sequence, he leaned in with his head (which he now admits was a rookie mistake), and right in that moment, Benett threw a crisp, clean right hand. It landed right on the top of Smith’s head and jammed his neck, sending a shockwave of pain down his body.

He said that the pain was so immediate and disorienting that his first thought was, “Where are my car keys?” Not “cut” or “medical”, but his car keys. It was a kind of punch that does not just hurt your body but scrambles your brain.

However, as said before, Smith was so immersed in Ali’s character that he kept on going. He was well aware of the fact that the role demanded a lot and was a lot more than physical endurance. After all, he wasn’t just portraying a normal boxer. He was portraying a man who took punches in real life and yet danced through it. It seems like destiny wanted it to happen to get Smith even closer to the spirit of the role.

Will Smith went through a lot of physical endurance, not just on screen, but behind the scenes, too. His trainer, Darrell Foster, did not treat him like an actor. He trained him as if he were actually preparing for a heavyweight title fight. Smith ran five miles a day, shadowboxed until his arms burned, and stuck to a strict regime that mirrored Ali’s pre-fight discipline, including abstaining from sex during camp. His trainer proudly said that he never backed off for a day.

These are the traits why Smith is counted as one of the most dedicated actors in Hollywood who respect their craft. And that is why he nails almost every role he plays on screen. Looking back on this hurtful punch, he did not glamorise the pain, but acknowledged that it is a part of the process. And though it was Ali’s story, for Smith it became a personal fight as much as a cinematic one.