Aamir Khan’s blockbuster sports drama Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, was released in 2016 and quickly became one of the biggest hits in Indian cinema history. Made on a budget of around ₹70 crores, the film went on to earn over ₹2070 crores at the global box office (as reported by Sacnilk). Both critics and viewers loved the movie for its powerful storytelling and inspiring performances.
But did you know that Dangal was not released in Pakistan? Many fans may be surprised by this, especially given how successful the film was in many other countries. Let’s take a look at the real reason behind this decision.
Why Dangal Didn’t Release in Pakistan
According to an old report by Business Today, Dangal didn’t hit the theatres in Pakistan due to a specific demand made by the Pakistani censor board. The board wanted certain scenes to be removed from the film—specifically, the ones where the Indian national flag is shown and where the Indian national anthem is played.
Aamir Khan, who not only played the lead role but also produced the movie, reportedly refused to accept this condition. He believed that these scenes were important for the story and removing them would not make sense. Dangal is a sports biopic based on a true story and has no political message or reference to Pakistan. Aamir felt that the film was not patriotic in an aggressive or anti-Pakistan way, so cutting those scenes just to release it in Pakistan didn’t feel right.
As a result, Aamir Khan and the makers of Dangal decided not to release the film in Pakistan.
What Is Dangal About?
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Dangal tells the real-life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler from Haryana. He trains his daughters, Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, to become professional wrestlers and win gold medals for India. Aamir Khan plays Mahavir Singh Phogat, while Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra play Geeta and Babita, respectively.
The movie shows the struggles the family faces, including criticism from villagers and pressure from society, as the girls train hard to achieve their father’s dream. The story is inspiring and highlights the strength of women in sports.
The film also stars Sakshi Tanwar as the mother, Zaira Wasim as young Geeta, Aparshakti Khurana, Ritvik Sahore, and Girish Kulkarni in key roles.
How Was Dangal Received?
Dangal was a massive success not just in India but worldwide. It holds a critics’ score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and has an IMDb rating of 8.3 out of 10. The film is also listed in IMDb’s list of the Top 250 movies of all time, which speaks volumes about its global impact.
The film won many awards, including four Filmfare Awards—for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Action. It also bagged a National Film Award, making it one of the most awarded films of the year.
Final Thoughts
Even though Dangal didn’t release in Pakistan, its message and impact reached audiences around the world. The film remains one of the finest examples of sports dramas in Indian cinema and continues to inspire people across generations.
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