Badhaai Ho director Amit Sharma started shooting on February 14 for a long outdoor schedule of his biopic Maidaan which stars Ajay Devgn as the legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Sharing information on the lengthy schedule, Amit says, “We go right up till the end of April with this schedule. We’re shooting all the major football matches with real football players. We will take very short breaks in-between keeping in mind minor injuries that may happen during shooting.”
Shooting with real footballers is not a problem. Finding them was. “I had to look for football players who could act, and not actors who would pretend to play football. Not even actors who couple play reasonably well. It had to be really good footballers who could act. I think I’ve got what I wanted,” expressed the director
Amit is all praise for Ajay Devgn, “The level of dedication Ajay Sir has shown has to be seen to be believed. He has not only sharpened his skills as a footballer, he made sure he was all there for the project from the word go. Maidaan couldn’t have been made without Ajay sir.I think he deserves another National award.”
Devgn has earlier won the National award for best actor in Zakham and The Legend Of Bhagat Singh.
As for the leading lady Priyamani, has she been sidelined in Maidaan since it seems to be a boy’s film? Amit responds in negative. “Not at all. There is enough space for Priyamani and she has done a wonderful job.”
Image source: Instagram/ajaydevgn/SpotboyEarchives
Image source: Instagram/ajaydevgn/SpotboyEarchives