Wrestler Babita Phogat recently shared that her family was paid Rs 1 crore for the rights to their life story, which inspired the 2016 blockbuster film Dangal. Despite the movie earning over Rs 2070 crore globally, Babita mentioned in an interview with ‘News 24’ that her payment was less than 1% of the total box office collection. The deal was made before Aamir Khan came on board as the lead actor and producer.
Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, was made on a budget of Rs 90 crore, with Rs 70 crore spent on production and Rs 20 crore on marketing. The film was based on the lives of Babita and her sister Geeta Phogat, who were trained by their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, to become international wrestling champions. The movie was a massive success in India, collecting Rs 387.38 crore.
Babita’s revelation of receiving Rs 1 crore contrasts sharply with the earnings of Aamir Khan. Reports indicate that Khan earned Rs 35 crore as his base salary. He also took home a significant portion of the film’s profits through a profit-sharing deal, which added an estimated Rs 375 crore to his earnings.
Phogat Family’s View on Fame and Dangal’s Impact
Babita also shared that her father, Mahavir Phogat, emphasized that their daughters had earned recognition and respect through their achievements in wrestling, not solely because of the film. He had asked his family to focus on the love and respect from people, rather than the film’s earnings.
Interestingly, Babita disclosed that Aamir Khan’s team had suggested changing the names of the characters in the film, a suggestion her father rejected. Additionally, the Phogat family had proposed opening a wrestling academy in Haryana with Khan’s support, but nothing materialized from the actor’s side.
The Phogat family’s contribution to wrestling has been significant, and while Dangal made their story globally famous, Babita’s comments highlight the disparity between the family’s earnings and the film’s monumental success.
