Babita Phogat
Nitesh Tiwari’s 2016 blockbuster Dangal, starring and co-produced by Aamir Khan, may have earned a staggering ₹2,000 crore at the global box office, but the Phogat family, on whom the film was based, didn’t benefit financially as much as one might expect. In a recent interview with News 24, wrestler-turned-politician Babita Phogat opened up about the compensation her family received from the filmmakers for the rights to their story.
When asked how much money the Phogat family was paid, Babita Phogat revealed that they received less than 1% of the film’s total box office collection. While Dangal earned around ₹2,000 crore worldwide, the Phogat family was given around ₹1 crore—far less than what many had speculated. Babita clarified that this deal was finalized early, even before Aamir Khan came on board as a producer. The arrangement was made with director Nitesh Tiwari’s team during the scripting stage of the film.
“My father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, had one simple request: ‘We want people’s respect and love. Leave everything else,’” Babita Phogat shared. She emphasized that her popularity came from the love of the people, not the film itself. Babita also revealed that once Aamir joined the project, his team suggested changing the character names in the movie, but her father firmly opposed the idea.
After the film’s massive success, Mahavir Singh Phogat proposed that Aamir Khan’s team open a wrestling academy in Haryana. While discussions took place, the plan never materialized. “Of course, we were in talks with his team regarding the opening of an academy. They said neither yes nor no,” Babita revealed, confirming that the wrestling academy was never established.
About Dangal
Dangal, co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Aamir Khan Productions, starred Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat, with Fatima Sana Shaikh and Zaira Wasim portraying Geeta Phogat, and Sanya Malhotra and Suhani Bhatnagar as Babita Phogat. Sakshi Tanwar played the Phogat sisters’ mother. The film remains one of Hindi cinema’s biggest global hits to date.
Reference by Hidustan Times
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