Nitesh Tiwari may be busy prepping for his grand two-part ‘Ramayana’ adaptation, but ‘Dangal’ is still making waves, nearly ten years on. Chinese MMA fighter Shi Ming has come forward to share how the iconic film sparked her journey as an athlete, a moment that got the filmmaker thinking about just how far a good story can travel.
Nitesh Tiwari says ‘no bigger reward for a storyteller than finding a place in viewers’ hearts’
Responding to Shi Ming’s heartwarming revelation, Nitesh Tiwari opened up to Variety India about what it means to him. He said, “It reaffirms my faith in the kind of stories I want to associate myself with. Stories that make a difference to someone’s life. For a storyteller, there is no bigger reward than finding a place in viewers’ hearts. And even after a decade, it feels great when top athletes quote it as an inspiration to their journey. Not just from your own country, but from other countries as well.”
‘Dangal’ became a cultural phenomenon in China after its 2016 release
‘Dangal’ hit screens in 2016 with Aamir Khan playing real-life wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat, telling the extraordinary story of the Phogat family. The film became one of Indian cinema’s biggest global triumphs, striking a particularly deep chord in China where it transcended box office success.
Shi Ming defeats India’s Pooja Tomar, credits ‘Dangal’ as her biggest inspiration
Shi Ming is among the most promising rising talents in Chinese mixed martial arts. The fighter recently came into the spotlight after defeating India’s Pooja Tomar via submission at Road to UFC Season 5 in Macau, and garnered further attention when she cited Dangal as a key source of inspiration throughout her journey as an athlete. Notably, it was a Hindi-language film centred around Indian wrestlers that made such a profound impact on her.
From Shi Ming to Harmanpreet Kaur , ‘Dangal’ continues to inspire athletes across the world
Dangal’s impact on the sporting world goes well beyond Shi Ming. Over the years, several athletes have pointed to the film as a driving force behind their success. Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur had previously credited the film’s themes of sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance for inspiring her during India’s historic run to the final of the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.