Did ‘Dangal’ distort facts? Aamir Khan answers Geeta Phogat’s coach’s complaint

‘Dangal‘ is going great guns at the box office. Even though everyone, from the audience to the critics, is mighty impressed with the film, there is one person who feels his character was portrayed in negative light.

PR Sondhi, the wrestling coach who trained Geeta Phogat and her younger sister Babita Kumari for over three years, had accused the film of harming his reputation. While in the film, PR Kadam is a vindictive, prejudiced and self-centered man who restricts the daughters from meeting their father, Sondhi claims nothing of this sort ever happened.

“They have changed the name to PR Kadam (played by Girish Kulkarni) in the film, but somewhere the character is loosely based on my life. I have known Mahavirji (Phogat, wrestling coach and father of Geeta and Babita Phogat) for many years and he is a thorough gentleman. His two daughters have trained under me for more than three years and not once did he interfere. I don’t understand the need to show the character as such a taskmaster. There were four other coaches, who were also involved (in the training), but they haven’t been shown in the film at all,” he had said in an earlier interview.

Also Read: Rakesh Roshan booked an entire 60-seater theatre to see ‘Dangal’ in privacy

After being questioned about the same, Aamir now has broken his silence and said, “In every biopic little fiction is added but essence of their story is kept intact. People are owning it. They feel it’s their film. It’s very heartwarming and reassuring and makes us all feel very special,” he said.

Sondhi, although he sought an explanation of his character’s portrayal, has assured that no legal moves will be taken against the film or Aamir Khan by him.

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.