Do you know that when Aditya Chopra first approached Shah Rukh Khan with the offer to act in Chak De India, the superstar turned down the offer?
At last, the D-Day is just around the corner for Yashraj Films presentation Chak De India (check out the slideshow). The movie is very unconventional not just by SRK’s standards but also for Yashraj banner. There are 16 actresses but no love angle. There is no song n’ dance. And there is no villain.
So why did SRK give his nod to the film?
SRK says when Aditya Chopra first came to him with the offer of ‘Chak De India’ he turned it down. Not because he didn’t like the script, but because he was too busy back then to commit to this film. By some twist of fate, Aditya couldn’t also complete the casting of girls in time. The film’s shooting got delayed and when Aditya approached SRK again after seven months, SRK had free dates to spare and therefore he accepted the offer.
In fact, SRK says he agreed to do this film not for Aditya Chopra, but for director Shimit Amin , whom SRK calls “a good friend”.
CASTING
You may also be surprised to know that Neetu Chandra was first considered to play the role of the captain of the girl’s hockey team in the film. But, for reasons better known to the makers of the film, she was dropped from the project and Vidya Malvade was roped in. Shimit Amin says the criteria for casting the girls was that he wanted 8 girls who could act well and 8 other girls who could play hockey well.
HOCKEY STICK
The hockey stick that SRK uses in the film actually belonged to director Shimit Amin. When Shimit first read the film’s script he went to a sports shop and bought himself a hockey stick. He kept this stick with himself during the film’s pre-production work. Later, when the shooting began, the stick changed hands from Shimit to SRK. It is this stick SRK uses in the film.
ON THE HOCKEY FIELD
SRK has been a lover of hockey since his school days when he used to play the game. In fact, before shooting the film he thought that he would be able to outshine the girls on the hockey field. But when he stepped on the field and began playing, he found that he had lost his touch with the game. On the other hand, the girls proved much better at the game.
SHAH RUKH’S BEARD
SRK sports a beard throughout ‘Chak De India’. The actor grew his beard over a period of two weeks. But there was a problem. Besides shooting the film he also had to shoot for some commercials that required a clean-shaven looks. SRK found a way out. After a shooting schedule of the film got over, he used to shave and shoot for the commercials. Then he would grow the beard again before the next schedule.
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Chak De India is based on the true story of former hockey goalkeeper and coach Mir Ranjan Negi, who was charged with allegations of match-fixing after India's humiliating 1-7 defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games hockey final. Seven years later, Negi’s honour was restored. He coached the national women's hockey team that won gold at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
In the film, SRK plays the coach.
Chak De India has been shot in Australia. The movie will release worldwide on August 10.
Chak De India : Some interesting facts!
