Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal might land in a soup as former Indian wrestling coach Piara Ram Sondhi is unhappy with the way he has been portrayed in the movie and is contemplating suing the makers for the same.
The movie, which is the real-life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters, Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, has been receiving accolades from all quarters. However, Sondhi, who was the national wrestling coach when the women’s wrestling team won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is very upset in the way his character has been shown in the movie. In one of the scenes his character, named PR Kadam, is seen locking Mahavir in a room so that he misses a big match of his daughter.
“They have changed the name to PR Kadam 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 is quoted as saying by Mid-Day.
Talking about the scene where he locks Mahavir in a room, he said: “Distortion of facts has hurt my reputation. Once I watch the film, I will speak to the wrestling federation. I also plan to meet Aamir and seek an explanation.”
Sondhi revealed that he had no idea about how his character would be shown in the movie when he had met Aamir Khan during the shooting.
“Kripa Shankar Bishnoi, who trained Aamir for Dangal, has been my student. When we all met, Aamir asked me general questions about wrestling, but not once did he discuss anything about the film. He should have told me how they were planning to portray the coach’s character,” he said.
In fact, the former coach is so hurt with the scenes that he has decided to cut all ties with Mahavir’s family.
He said:“I treated Geeta as my own daughter. I am shocked that the no one from the Phogat family protested against the treatment given to my character. I have decided to cut all ties with them for the good.”