Chak De India: Lesser Known Facts

SRK-Hansal in tweet tussle?

Shah Rukh Khan's film, Chak De India, completed 8 years on August 10, 2015. Not only SRK but his fans, too, got nostalgic about the film. Hansal Mehta, who is popular for his films, Shahid and Citylights, also took to Twitter to remember the film. He tweeted, "8 years of #ChakDeIndia is a reminder to @iamsrk that he is a fine actor and we need to see the actor challenge the star more often." Shah Rukh being Shah Rukh chose to reply in his own witty manner. He replied, "@mehtahansal why challenge, the star sir, let him coexist with the actor. They both r a part of me....I kinda like them equally." However, it seems that SRK fans took this tweet exchange in the wrong spirit and started criticising the filmmaker on the micro-blogging site. Clarifying his stand, Hansal tweeted, "Many fans of @iamsrk have taken umbrage to my tweet. I'm as much a fan as them. But I miss him doing more characters like #ChakDeIndia" [sic]

Meanwhile, check out some lesser known facts about the iconic film...

Shah Rukh Khan thanks co-stars as 'Chak De! India' clocks 8 years

Shah Rukh Khan made a special mention about his 16 female co-stars from Chak De! India as the much loved sports drama completed eight years on August 10, 2015. The actor expressed his gratitude towards the film's director Shimit Amin and producer Aditya Chopra on Twitter. "Chak De India. Thanks Shimit Adi SudeepDa Jaideep Salim Suleiman Amitabh & whole crew. And most special my beautiful Girls," [sic] he wrote. The film starred Anaitha Nair, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge, Vidya Malvade, Chitrashi Rawat among others.

Read on to know some interesting facts about the film...

Shah Rukh Khan's role as coach Kabir Khan was possibly his best role ever. Shah Rukh made his presence felt every time he appeared on screen. But very few know that Shah Rukh was not the first choice for the film. In fact SRK's alleged rival, Salman was offered the role of coach Kabir earlier. In an interview to Pinkvilla, Salman had revealed that before Shah Rukh he was offered the role of coach Kabir. And stating the reason behind declining the film he said, "I had a problem with the title. I wish they hadn’t added India to the title. I felt our fans in Pakistan and Bangladesh might feel bad.”

Shah Rukh too had declined to play the part earlier. But this had nothing to do with him not liking the script or Salman's rejection to the role. Shah Rukh Khan was busy shooting for Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and thus could not give dates for Chak De India. But later due to the long run of pre- production work he finally accepted the role. SRK emerged as a winner with this movie.

The actresses who played the role of hockey players, underwent a rigorous training regime for four months. Some of the girls who acted in the movie were already players and thus just had to learn acting. While the actresses had to learn hockey from scratch. All the actresses were kept on a strict diet to get an atheletic body. Real life Hockey players Mir Ranjan Negi and ex Chief National Coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik got involved with the production. They were closely involved in the training of these actresses.

Vidya Malvade who played the role of Vidya Sharma, hockey team's captain was a regular face in showbiz even before the movie. Vidya Mawade has studied law and was an airhostess. She was married to Capt. Arvind Singh Bagga who was a pilot in Air India. He passed away in a plane crash in 2000. In 2009, Vidya married Sanjay Dayma who worked as an associate director with Ashutosh Gowarikar in Lagaan.

Shubhi Mehta who played the role of Gunjan Lakhani in Chak De India was a part of TV show Roadies. Shubhi was among the top contestants in season 3 of Roadies. After Chak De India, Shubhi was not too keen on being a part of the industry. Though she was offered few roles, after the movie she never found a role as interesing as that of Gunjan. Currently she is working in her event management business.

Chitrashi Rawat, played the role of Komal Chautala in Chak De India. Chitrashi is a real life hockey player. She started playing hockey at the age of 17. She played as a left striker. Her role in Chak De India was widely appreciated. She did a number of roles after this in films like - Fashion and Luck. She has also appeared in a number of TV shows like - Comedy Circus, Is Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao etc.

Frieda Pinto was also supposed to be a part of the film. On Karan johar's 'Koffee With Karan' Frieda Pinto revealed that she too had auditioned for the role of one of the Hockey players in the movie. When Karan Johar asked if she was rejected by Yash Raj Films Frieda said, "They auditioned me, Slumdog was also going on at the same time, and Slumdog happened. I felt Chak De India was a great film. If I talk about Indian Commercials, I did get rejected as I did not look Indian face."