By Hindustan Times
For a while now, hockey legend Dhyan Chand was within the news over some Bharat Ratna speculation. But even before the Indian government takes a last call on conferring him with the top civilian honour, Bollywood has woken as much as the wizard’s magic. Apparently, multiple biopics on Chand are within the pipeline with superstar Shah Rukh Khan being one of the most choices to play the sporting hero on big screen.
SRK confirms: “Yes, I'VE BEEN approached for a film in accordance with the legendary Dhyan Chandji’s life. Hockey, as a sport, isn’t new to me since I'VE BEEN an athlete throughout my school and school life, and I’ve especially played numerous hockey.” Not many may know that SRK, during his school days at St Columba’s, Delhi, captained the football and hockey teams besides playing cricket on the zonal and national levels.
Of course, the actor has already had a broom with hockey in his film Chak De! India (2007), by which he played the coach of the women’s national hockey team. Although details of SRK’s project are currently unknown, a few other biopics on Chand are underway. Sources with reference to Chand’s family reveal that Manmohan Shetty (of Walkwater Media) and actor-director Satyajeet Puri have contacted Chand’s son, Ashok Kumar, regarding a movie on his life.
“Yes, I WILL make a biopic. And it’s in contrast to I'VE planned it after the success of Paan Singh Tomar or The Dirty Picture. I'VE BEEN engaged on it for the past two years. Chand was a one-man army. My film might be a tribute to all of the hockey players who still play a sport that might was dead a very long time ago in our country.” confirms Puri, who has worked as a kid actor in films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Anuraag (1972) and Bidaai (1974) within the past.
As for Walkwater Media, Shetty’s daughter Pooja, the joint managing director, refers back to the talk as “just floating rumours.” She adds: “Our adaptation of the novel, The Zoya Factor is definitely on, and as for other projects, we can announce them as and after we are ready. There are a few projects which can be still on the scripting level, but announcements will only be made when we are sure of them happening.”
Puri, on his part, admits that he has met Ashok in regards to the biographical film. “I think Ashok has sold the rights to someone else, but since Dhyan Chand is a countrywide treasure, no person needs permission to make his story right into a movie,” says Puri who plans to start out his film within the next “four to five” months.
It’s interesting to notice that Chand’s biopic comes immediately after a string of movies on real-life sports persons corresponding to Paan Singh Tomar and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Ask SRK about this trend and he says: “Honestly speaking, I haven’t watched Paan Singh Tomar yet but I’m generally very fascinated by such (sports-based) roles.”
