4 International Wrestlers Are A Part Of Aamir's Dangal + 10 Interesting Things About The Biopic

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While we await Salman Khan's Eid release Sultan, actor Aamir Khan is also gearing up to play his cards right during his favourite weekend around Christmas. And despite similarities between Sultan and Aamir's Dangal in terms of plot and shoot locations, the latter is still managing to keep the curiosity mills running. Blame it on Mr. Perfectionist or the fact that it is based on a real story, the wait for Dangal is getting difficult by the day.

Here's what we know so far:

1. Dangal is based on the real-life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari. 

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The film falls under the category of a biographical sports film. Phogat is an Indian Amateur wrestler and senior Olympics coach who taught wrestling to his daughters Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat. It traces Phogat's story from his young days as a struggling wrestler from Haryana to being a proud father of his achiever daughters.

2. Phogat's daughters are counted among the country's most successful women sportspersons.

filmibeat

Geeta won India's first-ever gold in women's wrestling at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Interestingly, the second place was bagged by her own sister Babita who won the silver. Later Babita also won bronze at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships and gold at 2014 Commonwealth Games. Geeta, on the other hand, is the first-ever Indian woman wrestler to have qualified for the Olympics. Phogat is indeed a proud father, and that's what Aamir will play in the film too.

3. Two newbies are set to play Aamir's onscreen daughters in Dangal.

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Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra are set to debut as Geeta and Babita respectively. While we remember Fatima as the child artist in Chachi 420, this will be Sanya's first screen performance ever. And going by the story, the two surely have important roles and will be seen getting into some hardcore punches.

4. Aamir will be playing two very distant roles with different looks.

The actor will play a 20-year-old and then a 60-year-old wrestler and a father of two girls. Looks like his younger avatar will appear in flashbacks. Aamir said:

"I have been practicing wrestling very religiously, I am enjoying this procedure a lot." - Aamir Khan

5. The actor gained 30 kgs for Dangal and turned into a vegetarian.

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Aamir is known to play around with his weight and looks. He turned vegetarian like Phogat. Aamir gained weight to become 98 kgs, so that he perfectly looks like a wrestler. While he has gone in length to make sure that no one can find a flaw with the way he portrays the character, he said is even became dangerous on his health. Talking about his drastic weight transformation, he said:

"At this age putting on weight is very easy, but losing it is equally very difficult. In three months I have put on 20 kgs and immediate weight gain is very dangerous for my health. In fact such kind of weight gain is dangerous for everyone. My breathing has changed; when I tie my laces, my stomach comes in between. After 20 seconds, I have to (take a long) breath."- Aamir Khan

6. Aamir was trained by Salman's personal trainer.

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Sultan and Dangal have more things in common. Apparently, Salman lent his personal trainer to Aamir, to get back in shape. Salman had sometime back said:

"Aamir will pull it off really well. He's got my personal trainer training him for Dangal." - Salman Khan

7. TV actress Sakshi Tanwar will play the role of Aamir's wife.

hindustantimes

Around 70 actresses, including actress Mallika Sherawat auditioned for the role of Daya Kaur. But Sakshi managed to bag it! According to the makers, "the chemistry, comfort level and body language" that they were looking for, Sakshi fit the bill. This will be her silver screen debut, considering her 2015 film Mohalla Assi never released!

8. Aamir was keen on getting Rajkummar Rao for the film.

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Seems like Rajkummar impressed Aamir despite sharing a small screen time with him in Talaash. We heard that Rajkummar will play a selector in the film. But nothing was heard beyond that. Even Ayushman Khurrana's brother Aparshakti will be seen in the film. The RJ and theatre actor's resonating voice and personality that bagged him the role.

9. Aamir's nephew is the Assistant Director for Dangal.

Mansoor Khan's son Pablo is assisting director Nitesh Tiwari for Dangal. Mansoor is Aamir's cousin. Co-producer Disney had narrated the story of the film to Nitesh in just two lines, and he agreed to do it. The ace director was apparently stung by the emotional quotient and inspirational plot of the film.

10. Four international wrestlers will be a part of Dangal.

india.com

After having real life boxers from Punjab act in the film, now even real international boxers have been roped in. According to sources well-known wrestlers - two from Poland, one from Cameron and one from UK landed in India, and stayed with the unit in Ludhiana and Delhi.

11. Dangal will also touch upon the issue of female infanticide in India.

indianexpress

Through the film the makers plan to highlight the sensitive issue too. Considering Haryana is infamous for female infanticide and low sex ratio, Aamir had confirmed that the film will focus on the social stigma in a creative way through a pinch of humour too!

Dangal releases on 23 December 2016!