Jinder Mahal has entered a new chapter of his career, stepping beyond the wrestling ring and into the world of cinema. The former WWE Champion, whose real name is Yuvaj Dhesi, stars in Strong Son, a Canadian feature exploring family, masculinity, mental health, and the complicated expectations placed on South Asian men.

The film, directed by Ian Bawa, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026, allowing Dhesi to experience one of the world’s major film festivals from a very different perspective.

And for Mahal, the TIFF premiere marked a milestone he had clearly been waiting to celebrate.

Jinder Mahal shared moments from the Strong Son premiere on his Instagram, highlighting the significance of seeing the film make its debut at TIFF. In the video, the former WWE Champion celebrates the occasion while describing Strong Son as his debut film, giving followers a glimpse into his transition from professional wrestling to acting.

"Its my debut film," the video opens with Mahal saying those words. Mahal was seen asking director Ian Bawa as to why he cast him in the role of Nav, to which the director replied playfully that he wanted someone he was "terrified of" but at the same time "friends with."

The film, which premiere snippet Mahal shared, sees him, credited as Yuvraj “Raj” Singh Dhesi, play Nav, a professional wrestler who becomes a gym companion to Harvey, played by Mandeep Sodhi. Rather than simply being the intimidating wrestler his appearance might suggest, Nav is presented as a warm and empathetic character who recognizes the struggles Harvey is experiencing.

For Dhesi, the role was also an unusual coincidence. When his manager sent him the script, he discovered that it featured a South Asian professional wrestler and initially wondered whether the character had been written specifically for him. He ultimately auditioned for both the lead role of Harvey and Nav before director Ian Bawa felt he was particularly suited to Nav.

Seth Rogen Is in Awe of Wife Lauren Miller Rogen as Their TIFF Double Feature Takes Shape

The TIFF premiere therefore represents more than a new acting credit for Mahal. It marks his first feature-film appearance and another step in a career that has already taken him well beyond his beginnings in professional wrestling.

Before stepping onto a film set, Mahal established himself as one of the most recognizable South Asian wrestlers to compete at the top level of WWE. After initially appearing in WWE and later returning in 2016 following a physical transformation, Mahal quickly moved into the championship picture. WWE records that he defeated Randy Orton at Backlash in May 2017 to become WWE Champion, marking the biggest title victory of his career.

Mahal went on to hold the WWE Championship during a prominent run as 'The Modern Day Maharaja.' He also captured the United States Championship at WrestleMania 34 in 2018, defeating Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, and Rusev in a Fatal 4-Way match.

His WWE career also included his time as part of 3MB alongside Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater, a group that has since developed a nostalgic following among wrestling fans.

Now, with Strong Son, Mahal is bringing that wrestling experience into a story that approaches strength from a different direction. The film's central character must confront the emotional pressures of caring for an aging parent and learn that strength can also mean asking for help.

Sebastian Stan Returns to the TIFF Spotlight With ‘FJORD’ Canadian Premiere

What do you think about Jinder Mahal's Strong Son? Let us know in the comments.