SECRET REVEALED: Something You Didn’t Know About Dangal Girls, Fatima & Sanya

Dangal, which won 4 SpotboyE Salaams – Best Actor (Male), Best Film, Best Director and Best Singer (Female) – continues to make waves across the country. Spotboye.com brings to you an undisclosed fact from the audition days of Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra

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SECRET REVEALED: Something You Didn’t Know About Dangal Girls, Fatima & Sanya

Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, which proved to be the most successful film in Bollywood history, propelled debutantes Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra to overnight stardom. Their striking portrayal of Indian wrestlers Geeta (Fatima) and Babita (Sanya) Phogat, was a complete knockout and made the industry sit up and take notice.

dangal poster aamir khan
Image Source: twitter/aamirkhan

While the Internet is replete with facts about how they landed the role in the Nitesh Tiwari film and their off-screen camaraderie, SpotboyE.com brings to you an interesting fact about the Dangal girls.

Did you know that Fatima and Sanya had auditioned for the both Geeta and Babita’s role and the makers were certain that they will play the Phogat sisters? However, at that point of time they were undecided on the parts the two will get to essay.

Says a source, “The makers were impressed by what Fatima and Sanya had to offer. They selected both, but for some time were unable to decide as to who plays Geeta and who essays the role of Babita.”

aamir khan fatima sana sheikh and sanya malhotra
Image Source: india

So how was the cast finally put in place?

Adds the source, “It was a difficult decision as the competition was neck and neck. A number of meetings were held where some saw Fatima as Geeta, while others thought Sanya would be a better choice. During one of the meetings, a member of the team put forth his observation that Fatima looked slightly older that Sanya and hence, should play Geeta Phogat. This struck a chord with Nitesh, UTV and Aamir and finally Fatima was cast as Geeta.”

Dangal, an autobiographical sports drama, revolves around Mahavir Singh Phogat (essayed by Aamir) who trains his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari in wrestling. The sisters go on to achieve firsts for Indianwrestling at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

aamir khan with daughter fatima sana sheikh and sanya malhotra dangal
Image Source: youtube/UTVMotionPictures

It has been reported that Fatima and Sanya had to undergo rigorous training for 2 years under the guidance of Kripa Shankar to physically transform themselves. That’s not all. The two were made to follow the same regimes as the real Geeta and Babita Phogat in order to look like professional wrestlers.

Now that the film has released, we can’t think of a better choice for Geeta and Babita. What say?


Thumbnail Image Source: APH Images