Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 6, 2014)

John Abraham has landed a heavyweight role— one of the most famous wrestlers of the country, Gama Pehlwan, better known as the Great Gama.

A biopic on the John Bull Belt winner who remained unbeaten till death is in the offing and actor turned director Parmeet Sethi, who wielded the megaphone for Shahid Kapoor-Anushka Sharma starrer Badmaash Company, will be helming the project.Apart from playing the lead, John will be producing the film under his home banner, JA Entertainment.

 Parmeet, who also calls the film a sports biopic, confirmed the development and said, “Yes, I am going to direct a film on Gama Pehlwan for John and I am looking forward to it. It’s going to be a very credible film.”

One of the reasons why Parmeet went to John is the kind of films John has been producing- Vicky Donor and Madras Cafe in particular. “John wants good cinema. And that is what I intend to put on the plate.”

The film will be shot mainly in North India. John and Parmeet plan to put the film on floors sometime later this year.

The two go back to the days when they shared screen space in Kaal (2005). The duo later became thick friends on the sets of Baabul (2006).

 Parmeet was first noticed in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) in which he played the character of Kuljeet, an arrogant alpha male betrothed to Kajol aka Simran.
 
ABOUT GREAT GAMA PEHLWAN
Gulaam Mohammed alias Great Gama Pehlwan was the best wrestler in the country in those times and remained unbeaten till he died on May 21, 1960. Born in Amritsar in 1882, Gama was awarded the World Heavyweight title in 1910. Gama was also known for having lifted a 1200 kg stone that was lying in Nazarbaug Palace near Mandvi. The stone that has now been kept at Baroda Museum in Sayajibaug is two-and-a-half feet in height.