Upala KBR (DNA; December 28, 2016)

Aamir Khan organised a screening of Dangal at Balali in Haryana (where Mahavir Phogat and his family reside) last week as he had promised the villagers.

Says an insider, “When Aamir went for Geeta Phogat’s wedding in November this year, everyone was insisting for a screening. Since the nearest theatre is approximately 100 kms away from the village, Aamir made arrangements for one big screening. He had booked the entire theatre and organised everything from the snacks to the transportation.”

The entire village, comprising over 500 people, was present for the screening. “Post the movie, they all called and spoke to him. Aamir was very happy with the kind of response he received from them. Even Mahavir and his family were touched.”

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 21, 2016)

At the entrance of Haryana’s Balali village hung a large signboard declaring it the home turf of the Phogat sisters — Geeta, Babita, Vinesh and Ritu. Villagers were thrilled Balali was having its biggest wedding ever, as Geeta tied the knot with fellow wrestler Pawan Kumar in a grand ceremony at Charkhi Dadri, 20 km from the village. Aamir Khan, who plays her father Mahavir Phogat in his next, Dangal, was there to bless the newly weds.

Early last morning, Mahavir was on his toes, looking into minute details. Aamir joined the party in the afternoon. Walking in with his Dangal family — Sakshi Tanwar, Sanya Malhotra (who plays Babita) and director Nitesh Tiwari, the star brought in big boxes of dry fruits, sweets and gifts. Fatima Sana Shaikh, who plays Geeta on screen and has recently fractured her leg, missed the wedding.

Aamir was supposed to get Geeta’s bridal lehenga too, but as per tradition, the dulhan’s shaadi ka joda comes from her maternal uncle’s side. The star was hardly disheartened, though. He said his real wedding gift was the movie itself.

The bride was up and about all morning, attending to guests. The paps were even given a tour of their local akhada. One of Geeta’s cousins emotionally said there was a time Mahavir fought with everyone to make wrestlers out of his daughters. “The mentality of the village has changed after the girls went on to win medals. Mahavir’s story is out there for the world to see with this movie.”

The star spent two hours with the Phogats, helping with preparations and talking to the media who were thrilled to cover the village’s first celebrity wedding. By 6 pm, the wedding began. Geeta looked resplendent in a pretty pink lehenga. Pawan, dressed in red safa and sherwani, looked dapper.

Though conversation at the shaadi revolved around the bride the couple, Dangal was hotly discussed. Amid blessings and best wishes, village elders who once muttered how the chhoris were a shame to the brethren, were visibly sad that the pride of their community was moving to her ‘real’ home.