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Dangal official poster

Dangal(2016)

8.4/10
Hindi161 mins

Dangal is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language biographical sports drama film directed by Nitesh Tiwari. It stars Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former amateur wrestler who trains his daughters Geeta and Babita to become world-class wrestlers. Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra portray the adult versions of the Phogat sisters, with Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar playing their younger selves. The film follows Mahavir's journey from a disappointed father to a determined coach who defies societal norms in rural Haryana. It explores themes of gender equality, parental ambition, and national pride. Dangal received universal critical acclaim for its honest storytelling, emotional depth, and Khan's transformative performance. It became the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide, earning over ₹2,000 crore, and was particularly successful in China. The film won four Filmfare Awards including Best Film and Best Actor. It was released on 23 December 2016 and is available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Director:Nitesh Tiwari
Filmed In:Ludhiana, Punjab, India; Pune, Maharashtra, India; Delhi, India
Occasion:Christmas 2016
Mood:
emotionalinspiringuplifting
Where to watch:

Quick Facts

Streaming on
Netflix
OTT Release Date
23 March 2017
Theatrical Release
23 December 2016
Director
Nitesh Tiwari
Language
Hindi
Runtime
2h 41m
Rating
8.4/10

Storyline

A former wrestler forced to abandon his dream of winning a gold medal for India decides to train his two daughters to become champions. Despite facing ridicule from their village and a lack of resources, the girls rise to become national champions. But when the elder daughter leaves for a state academy, she must choose between her father's old-school methods and her new coach's techniques.

A father's dream. A daughter's fight.

Film Details

8.4Rating
161Minutes
HindiLanguage
UCertificate
Release Date23 December 2016
OccasionChristmas 2016
Also Known As摔跤吧!爸爸 · Dangal Yuddham · 당갈 · Dangal · Dangal · 打死不離三父女 · דנגאל
Filmed InLudhiana, Punjab, India; Pune, Maharashtra, India; Delhi, India

Parental Guide

Violence
Low
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Low

Where to Watch

Vibe & Tags

Mood
emotionalinspiringuplifting
Themes
familyidentityjusticesurvival
Toneserious
Pacingslow-burn
Complexitylight
Audiencefamily
Best Withfamily
Violence2
Emotion5
Humor3
Rewatchability5

Cast & Crew

Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Dangal

Cast reunions in this film: Rajkummar Rao & Sanya Malhotra (2 films together), and Aamir Khan & Pritam Chakraborty (2 films together).

Trivia

  • Aamir Khan gained 25 kilograms to play the older version of Mahavir Singh Phogat.
  • The real-life Phogat sisters trained the actresses for over eight months to perfect their wrestling moves.
  • The film's wrestling scenes were shot using real competitive wrestlers as body doubles for complex throws.
  • It became the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide at the time of its release, surpassing 'PK'.
  • The child actors playing young Geeta and Babita were selected from a wrestling academy in Haryana.
  • Aamir Khan insisted on using minimal makeup and prosthetics to keep his aging look authentic.
  • The movie's title 'Dangal' refers to the traditional Indian wrestling competition held in a clay pit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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