Aamir Khan starrer “Dangal” has been earning accolades and money at the box office, so much so that the biopic is on the brink of becoming the highest grossing film of all time. The film is based on the real-life story of Mahavir Phogat, who had to give up wrestling as a sport due to financial constraints but went on to train his daughters into world-class champions.
Geeta Phogat, the eldest of Mahavir’s four daughters, and Commonwealth Games medallist had claimed that the film’s story is 99% true and 1% entertainment, however, now it has come to the fore that there were many fictional elements in the movie.
Sportskeeda took an in-depth look at the film, and brought out 5 instances where Dangal drifted away from reality:
#5 On the occasion of Geeta’s birth, the mother was disappointed and not her father, Mahavir Phogat
In the film, it is depicted that Mahavir Phogat showcases a dispirited look when he comes to learn that his first-born child is a girl. However, in real life, it was his wife Daya Kaur who was actually disappointed that she did not deliver a boy, who could go on and fulfil her husband’s dream of winning a medal for the country as a wrestler.
This fact is clearly stated in Mahavir Phogat’s biography, “Akhada” which was authored by Saurabh Duggal.
#4 Negative character of the national coach
In the film, it is shown that the coach of the national team is a shrewd character, often portrayed in the negative light for being jealous of Geeta and demotivating her time and again. However, the fact remains that the real-life coach of the Phogat sisters, PR Sodhi was, in the true sense, not at all like his on-screen version.
He stated that what has been shown in the film is completely wrong and there is a clear distortion of facts, for he knew Mahavir Phogat personally and respected the man from the very beginning.
#3 Geeta won her first international medal in 2009 and not at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010
It has been depicted on the silver screen that after joining the national sports academy, Geeta embarks on a poor run at the international stage, not winning any medal and exiting the global competitions one after the other before claiming the all-important gold medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.
However, in real life, Geeta Phogat’s first gold medal came at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship which was held at Jalandhar in 2009.
#2 Mahavir Phogat was not locked inside a room during Geeta’s final match at the Commonwealth Games
The film showcases Geeta’s real life father, Mahavir Phogat cheering her on and shouting instructions to her from the stands all throughout her stint at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. However, just before her final encounter against Emily Bensted of Australia, he falls trap to a conspiracy and finds himself locked in a room and is subsequently unable to watch his daughter wrestle her way to a gold medal for India.
But, the authorised biography of Mahavir Phogat, “Akhada” again stands as a testament to the truth wherein it is stated that Mahavir was in fact present in the stands even during the finals and witnessed his daughter win the gold medal for the country live from the sidelines.
#1 The final encounter - an edge of the seat thriller or an easy win?
The audience is made to believe that Geeta faced a really tough opponent in Emily Bensted in her final match at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, so much so that she was in fact on the verge of losing until the very last second in the third and penultimate round. However, in reality, Geeta had outclassed her rival in just two rounds, not giving her even a single opportunity to score a point, unlike the movie.
