Behind Dangal’s Realism: How Wrestlers Were Made In 8 Months Of Rigorous Training

The remarkable authenticity of wrestling sequences in the film Dangal didn’t happen by accident. A recent post from Aamir Khan Productions revealed the extraordinary behind-the-scenes effort that went into creating one of Indian cinema’s most realistic sports dramas.

Kripa Shankar Bishnoi Benewal, coach of the Indian Wrestling Team, was given just six months to transform the film’s actresses into convincing wrestlers. Director Nitesh Tiwari’s brief was precise and pragmatic: “You can’t turn them into wrestlers but make sure that their wrestling doesn’t look fake.”

This seemingly simple instruction set in motion a transformation journey that would push the actors to their physical limits. According to the Instagram post, the training regimen was essentially a mirror of what actual wrestlers endure, albeit with slightly less intensity.

The “Dangal girls” trained 6-8 hours daily over approximately eight months, following a regimen that mirrored actual wrestlers’ training but with slightly less intensity. The post emphasizes that the few hours of wrestling seen on screen represent “a fruitful result of a year of hard work, dedication, sweat, passion and more.”

The Instagram post also revealed Aamir Khan’s strategic filming approach – shooting portions where his character Mahavir Singh Phogat appears heavier and older before filming sequences showing the character in his youth. This backward approach maintained momentum throughout Khan’s physical transformation process.

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Glendon MossSenior writer

 

Glendon Moss is a marketer and storyteller with over a decade of experience in digital campaigns, content strategy, writing and performance marketing. Currently heading video content at Incnut Digital, he’s driven brand engagement and revenue for leading D2C brands with campaigns that have earned both commercial impact and international acclaim.

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