Explorer

'Dangal': Geeta-Babita's coach Sondhi calls Aamir, asks him to say 'sorry'

Phagwara: Former Indian wrestling coach P R Sondhi has conveyed his "displeasure" to film star Aamir Khan for allegedly demeaning the character of wrestling coach in the Aamir Khan-starrer 'Dangal' and hoped the super star would realize his mistake. Phagwara-based Sondhi, who had trained the Phogat sisters ahead of their participation in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is miffed with the film makers for showing a character modelled after him in a poor light. Sondhi expressed his displeasure for demeaning the character of wrestling coach in the film during a telephonic conversation with Aamir yesterday, he said here today. "I told Aamir that the film was good and will boost sports, especially wrestling, particularly in North India, besides its being a feminist statement on equality of girls with boys in a region where the social evil of female foeticide was prevalent," he said. However, I also told Aamir that portrayal of the coach in negative role had hurt him (Sondhi) hugely, he said. "I also told him that Aamir or Director Nitesh Tiwari should have talked to him about it," he said. Sondhi had met Aamir during shooting of 'Dangal' in Ludhiana. "We discussed wrestling but nothing about the portrayal of coach was discussed," Sondhi claimed. He said that Aamir heard him patiently during his telephonic conversation. "I hope Aamir will again ring me up to clear my objection to the 'villainous' portrayal of coach as it had downgraded coaches as a class and (he) will say sorry for it," he said. "Aamir is a good actor, good film maker and a good person. I am his fan. I don't know how he has committed this mistake," a perturbed Sondhi said. The film 'Dangal' is based on the life of Haryana wrestler Mahavir Phogat and his two daughters Geeta and Babita who had won gold and silver medals respectively in the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi. In the movie, Sondhi's character - P R Kadam played by Girish Kulkarni - is shown locking up Mahavir Phogat, portrayed by Aamir, in a store room during Geeta's gold medal bout in the 55kg category. "No such thing happened at all," said Sondhi emphatically. "There were five other coaches. There were wrestling officials and media. If anything like it had happened, it must have been picked by media," argued Sondhi. "Besides, Mahavir is a thorough gentleman who never interfered during coaching of his daughters who were trained alongwith other girls," he said. He said that he was aware that few fictional events were added to make the film entertaining, but it should not have been at his expense. The 70-year-old Sondhi runs 'RPD Olympic Wrestling Academy' here after his retirement.
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Bird Strike Or Fog: What Led To Kazakhstan Plane Crash That Killed At Least 30
Bird Strike Or Fog: What Led To Kazakhstan Plane Crash That Killed At Least 30
Renowned Malayalam Writer MT Vasudevan Nair Dies At 91, Kerala Govt Announces 2-Day Mourning
Renowned Malayalam Writer MT Vasudevan Nair Dies At 91, Kerala Govt Announces 2-Day Mourning
Christmas Spirit Grips India As Devotees Throng Churches To Celebrate With Religious Fervour — PICS
Christmas Spirit Grips India As Devotees Throng Churches To Celebrate With Religious Fervour — PICS
ABP News Checks AAP's Claim Of 'Cash-For-Vote Scam' Against BJP, Revelations Will Shock You. VIDEO
ABP News Checks AAP's Claim Of 'Cash-For-Vote Scam' Against BJP, Revelations Will Shock You. VIDEO
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Anya Polytech IPO: Must Watch Exclusive Interview Before Investing | Paisa LiveWhy Payas Pandit Struggled to Gain Recognition Despite Her Bhojpuri Debut with Pawan Singh?Sambhal News: ASI Team to Inspect Stepwell Today, Exclusive Pictures from the SiteBJP Accuses AAP of Deceiving Public with New Schemes Ahead of Delhi Elections

Photo Gallery

Embed widget