At this year's Toronto International Film Festival, the feature Strong Son examines the intersection of mental health and South Asian cultural expectations. The film follows a man returning home to care for his father while navigating complex male bonds.
From WWE Championship to Empathy: Raj Dhesi’s Role in Strong Son
Raj Dhesi, a former WWE champion who competed under the name Jinder Mahal, brings significant physical presence to the production.. After his 12-year tenure with the professional wrestling promotion ended in April 2024, Dhesi sought to diversify his career beyond the ring. As reported by The Canadian Press, Dhesi's manager sent him the script,which featured a South Asian professional wrestler—a detail that immediately caught his attention.
Dhesi initially auditioned for two different roles: the grieving bodybuilder Harvey and the empathetic wrestler Nav. He ultimately landed the role of Nav, a character that allows him to subvert the aggressive persona often associated with professional athletes. This transition marks a significant pivot for Dhesi as he expands his horizons beyond the wrestling ring.
Bawa’s "Sad Dad Trilogy" and the weight of South Asian caregiving
The feaure-length film is an expansion of a 2020 short film that originally premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Director and writer Bawa describes the project as the conclusion to his "sad dad trilogy," which includes the previous works The Best and My Son Went Quiet. According to the report, the narrative is deeply personal, reflecting Bawa's own experiences of managing his father's medical needs while struggling with personal panic attacks and mental health crises.
This storyline highlights a specific cultural expectation within South Asian communities regarding the duty to care for aging parents and the pressure on sons to fulfill their fathers' visions. The film explores how these family responsibilities can fundamentally shape an individual's identity and emotional well-being.
Challenging the 238-pound archetype through Nav’s empathy
The character of Nav, played by Dhesi, is designed to disrupt traditional perceptions of masculinity. standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 238 pounds, the character possesses the physical stature of a potential antagonist or "gym bully." However, the film portrays him as a warm and compassionate gym buddy to the protagonist, Harvey, played by Mandeep Sodhi.
By emphasizing Nav's willingness to listen and support others, the film suggests that emotional openness is a form of strength rather than a weakness . This contrast serves to challenge familiar ideas about strength, presenting empathy as a defining quality rather than aggression.
Uncertainty regarding the film's post-TIFF distribution path
While the film is currently receiving attention at TIFF, several critical details regarding its future remain unaddressed... It is currently unknown if the production has secured a major distribution deal to move from the festival circuit into wider theatrical or streaming releases. Furthermore, the source does not clarify how the film's specific focus on the "anglicized" identity of characters like Harvey will be marketed to broader, non-South Asian audiences. Finally, there is no information regarding whether the "sad dad trilogy" will see further expansions or if this feature marks the definitive end of Bawa's thematic exploration.
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