05 March,2021 11:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinamra Mathur
Parineeti Chopra and Saina Nehwal Picture Courtesy: PR and AP, PTI
Every time a biopic on a sports personality in Bollywood is announced, the first question one seldom asks is- Who's starring in it? The first impression inevitably has to be about the physical resemblance, followed by the nuances of the figure. Amole Gupte has now made a film on the life of the ace badminton player Saina Nehwal.
The teaser came out on March 4 that showed her steer determination and endless achievements that made the nation weep and cheer in glory. This iconic figure is essayed by Parineeti Chopra, and despite the fact that the resemblance isn't as seamless, the actress' effort to sink into Nehwal's psyche looks commendable indeed! Here's a woman who refused to hold a ladle in her hand post adulthood, she would rather hold a sword, and for her, the sword was, is, and will always be the badminton racquet.
Will this biopic score high when it opens in the cinemas on March 26? Before we witness Nehwal's journey from her cot to the court, here are some other biopics on sports personalities that swept the nation, almost.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
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There are some critics that argue that Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's telling of Indian sprinter Milkha Singh was overlong and jingoistic. There are some fans too, that revel in Farhan Akhtar's performance even seven years later. Of all the biopics made on heroes on the sports field, it can be argued that Akhtar came to the resemblance closest. He didn't bother about the people who critiqued the biopic, he just ran akin to the character he essayed.
Mary Kom (2014)
Since the film was based on Indian boxer Mary Kom, one would expect it would pack a punch. Priyanka Chopra took the part, and it was a Herculean task to look exactly like Kom. But this underdog story was filled with pain and pathos that the similarities didn't matter after a while.
Dangal (2016)
Aamir Khan plays Mahavir Singh Phogat, a wrestler who gives up his dreams of getting a gold medal for India since it cannot give him a financially stable life. He sees that dream again through her daughters Geeta and Babita. At first, they react with disdain, and then with determination. It's not only the physical training of the actors, it's also the portrayal of the emotional turmoil and triumph that makes Dangal a tear-jerker, albeit a polarising climax.
M.S Dhoni- The Untold Story (2016)
When it was announced that Neeraj Pandey is making a film on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, there was palpable euphoria and excitement, and expectedly so. The late Sushant Singh Rajput struck a striking resemblance to the former captain of the Indian Cricket Team and it was also a film that had some highly impressive visual effects, never allowing us to distinguish between real and reel. Not much in this biopic was untold, what held it together was the leading man's performance, finishing off things in style.
'83 (2021)
It has been announced for a while now. The filming is complete; it's ready for a June 4 release. We have seen every actor's look in this Kabir Khan directorial. India's victory in the 1983 World Cup is the greatest underdog triumph in cricket history. Ranveer Singh plays Kapil Dev, and the man truly inhabits the physical traits of the former captain. There are two reasons why this film excites us, we all know the players and what they did, and yet we don't know how it all unfolded on the ground that day. It's like knowing everything and yet knowing nothing.
