Babita Phogat, the celebrated wrestler whose life inspired the blockbuster Dangal, has voiced her concerns regarding the financial compensation she and her family received from the film’s makers. The film, starring Aamir Khan, achieved immense success, grossing over Rs 2,070 crore globally, as reported by Sacnilk. However, the Phogat family reportedly received only Rs 1 crore for the rights to their story, a stark contrast to the film’s monumental earnings.
In a candid interview with News 24, Babita recounted how the journey to Dangal began. A journalist from Chandigarh initially wrote an article about her family, prompting Nitesh Tiwari’s team to reach out. Babita explained, “They approached us around 2010, initially suggesting a documentary. Later, they proposed making a feature film.”
Babita and her family were emotionally moved when they first watched the film. “It felt like I was transported back to my childhood,” she said, reflecting on the experience. However, she expressed disappointment over the financial arrangement. “I didn’t receive much money. You’ll be surprised to know they even considered removing my name from the film entirely,” she revealed, highlighting the challenges in negotiating rights.
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The Phogat family was particularly adamant about maintaining their real names in the film, a point of contention during the production process. Babita recalled discussions with Aamir Khan’s team regarding character names, stating, “My dad insisted that if they wanted to make the film, it would use our real names.”
When pressed about the compensation received, Babita made a poignant comparison: “How much is 1% of Rs 2,000 crore? Rs 20 crore? If I ask you the 1% of Rs 20 crore? Rs 20 lakh? Well, not so less, but around Rs 1 crore,” she clarified, underscoring the disparity between the film’s profits and her earnings.
In the wake of Dangal’s success, Babita’s father reached out to Aamir Khan’s team with a proposal to establish a wrestling academy in Haryana. “It would take about Rs 5-6 crore to open a nice academy, but our request was ignored,” she lamented.
As Babita continues to advocate for the wrestling community, her reflections on “Dangal” raise important questions about compensation and recognition in the film industry, particularly for those whose stories inspire global hits.