In a candid revelation that has sent shockwaves across the Indian cinema and sports fraternities, Babita Phogat, the famed wrestler-turned-politician, disclosed that despite the monumental success of the 2016 wrestling drama ‘Dangal’, her family did not significantly benefit financially. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Dangal’ featured Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan in a pivotal role and narrates the inspiring story of India’s trailblazing female wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari and their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat.
During a conversation with News 24, Babita Phogat opened up about the financial side of the biopic, stating that her family received less than 1% of the film’s staggering worldwide earnings of approximately ₹2,000 crore. In her discussion, she clarified that the Phogat family earned around ₹1 crore, a far cry from the whopping revenue the film generated. This deal, she explained, was sealed even before Aamir Khan joined the project as a producer and was during the creative phase with Nitesh Tiwari’s team.
Babita highlighted a conversation she had with her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, who, despite the financial aspect, expressed a preference for respect and recognition over monetary gains. “My father said, ‘We want people’s respect and love. Leave everything else,’” Babita shared, reflecting her family’s commitment to values over financial compensation.
Furthermore, Babita revealed that the film boosted her public image thanks to the overwhelming support from audiences, more than any financial gain from the movie itself. She recalled a significant moment when, upon Aamir Khan’s entrance to the project, his team suggested changing the names of the characters portrayed in the film. However, Mahavir Singh Phogat objected to this, underscoring the importance of authenticity in their story.
In light of the film’s extraordinary success, Mahavir Singh Phogat proposed to Aamir Khan’s team the establishment of a wrestling academy in Haryana to nurture future talents. Babita noted, “Of course, we were in talks with his team regarding the opening of an academy.
. They said neither yes nor no,” indicating that ultimately, the plan for the academy did not materialize, leaving unfulfilled ambitions for expanding wrestling opportunities in their home state.
‘Dangal’, upon its release in 2016, quickly grew to be one of India’s highest-grossing films, earning acclaim for its meaningful content and outstanding performances. The drama emphasized the rise of female wrestling in India, reflecting not only sports but also a significant social and cultural narrative that resonated with audiences globally.
In contrast, Aamir Khan’s more recent film, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, did not match the success of ‘Dangal’, failing to perform well at the box office. Meanwhile, Sanya Malhotra, who played Babita in ‘Dangal’, was recently featured in Meghna Gulzar’s biopic ‘Sam Bahadur’, alongside Vicky Kaushal. Fatima Sana Shaikh, another key ‘Dangal’ cast member, is set to appear in Anurag Basu’s upcoming anthology film ‘Metro…In Dino.’
While ‘Dangal’ brought the Phogat story to an international audience, the financial discrepancy reported by Babita Phogat underscores an ongoing conversation around the fair compensation of individuals whose life stories become fodder for highly profitable cinematic projects. This revelation has sparked discussions about the ethics and responsibilities of filmmakers in sharing profits with the real-life subjects of their films. The Phogat family, hailed for their contributions to Indian sports, continues to prioritize legacy and goodwill over financial compensation, setting an example of integrity in the face of Hollywood-like success.
