The much-anticipated biopic “Maidaan”, directed by Amit Sharma and starring Ajay Devgn as football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, is set to hit the screens next month. The film is under significant scrutiny as it portrays the life of Syed Abdul Rahim, who coached the Indian football team during its golden era from 1952 to 1962. Any misrepresentation or discrepancy in the film could be costly for the makers.
Amit Sharma recently opened up about his initial apprehensions regarding casting Ajay Devgn in the role of Syed Abdul Rahim. He admitted to having an image crisis while trying to envision Devgn as the renowned football coach. However, Sharma emphasized that since the film focuses on the coach’s emotional journey, he believed that no one but Devgn could have portrayed the character effectively.
Speaking to Indian Express, Amit Sharma revealed that all his reservations disappeared once Ajay Devgn began filming. Sharma confessed that he had never worked with Devgn before and had an image of him primarily as ‘Singham’. However, his perception of the actor changed drastically during the filming process. Sharma praised Devgn’s commitment to the role, stating, “He would leave the stardom of Ajay Devgn outside the set. Once inside, he transformed into Syed. His performance in the film is incredible.”
Sharma also reminisced about a conversation he had with Devgn during the filming, where the actor asked him, “Who is Syed for you?” The exchange further highlighted Devgn’s dedication to understanding and portraying the character of Syed Abdul Rahim authentically.
