The highly anticipated trailer of ‘Sultan’ – an Indian sports drama movie centred around the life of a Haryanvi wrestler played by Salman Khan – has just been released and is already notching up astronomical numbers via YRF’s channel on YouTube. Because of its plot embedded in sports, speculations of this film had already been doing the rounds for a while with 2016 being the quadrennial Olympic year and Indian wrestling lately having achieved unprecedented highs to boast of.
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner, ‘Sultan’ also stars Anushka Sharma as Aarfa, Randeep Hooda as Sultan’s coach and Amit Sadh who plays the protagonist’s brother. In the 3:18 minute-long clip itself, Anushka wows with her female wrestler act, and its resemblance to JSW Sports-supported Geeta Phogat’s Story is unmistakable as well.
Hailing from a small town in Haryana, Salman’s Sultan Ali Khan Cheema embarks on a spirited ascension to clinch gold medal at the FILA Wrestling World Championships and then on to the 2012 London Olympics for India. Incidentally, the Olympics this year will see the largest ever contingent, a total of eight of wrestlers from India, chase supreme glory at Rio de Janeiro.
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Therefore, it’s noteworthy that all the hullabaloo regarding Salman Khan’s unbefitting appointment by the IOA as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Indian Olympic squad can now be put to rest, since his screen character promises to contribute solidly towards the upliftment of sports like wrestling and other martial arts which often find themselves sidelined in a country engrossed in mainstream games.
Finally, it’s time for the Rocky Balboas and the Raging Bulls from Hollywood to step aside – come July, India is set to have its own favourite on-screen champion when ‘Sultan’ hits the theatres all across India.
