In a bombshell revelation, wrestler Babita Phogat, whose inspiring life story was immortalized in Aamir Khan’s Dangal, claimed that the filmmakers initially wanted to exclude her name from the film entirely. Despite the movie raking in a massive Rs 2070 crore globally, Babita revealed she and her family received just Rs 1 crore for their story rights.
Babita shared in a recent interview that Dangal, which told the tale of her father Mahavir Singh Phogat and her sister Geeta Phogat’s rise in wrestling, was originally pitched as a documentary. However, it later transformed into a blockbuster, but not without some controversy. “They were even discussing changing my character’s name,” she revealed, adding that her father firmly opposed the idea, insisting their real names be used.
Despite the film’s monumental success, Babita expressed disappointment, saying her family’s request for help in building a wrestling academy in Haryana was ignored by Aamir Khan’s team. This comes as a surprise, considering the movie’s global earnings.
The Dangal revelations have added a new layer to the legacy of the film, leaving fans questioning the real behind-the-scenes story of Bollywood’s highest-grossing biopic.