Nitesh Tiwari He might be busy gearing up for his big two-part adaptation ‘Ramayana’, but ‘Dangal’ is still making waves, almost a decade later. Chinese MMA fighter Shi Ming has come forward to share how the iconic film sparked his journey as an athlete, a moment that made the filmmaker think about how far a good story can go.
Nitesh Tiwari says “there is no greater reward for a storyteller than finding a place in the hearts of the audience”
Reacting to Shi Ming’s heartwarming revelation, Nitesh Tiwari opened up to Variety India about what it means to him. He said: “It reaffirms my belief in the kind of stories I want to associate myself with. Stories that make a difference in someone’s life. For a storyteller, there is no greater reward than finding a place in the hearts of the audience. And even after a decade, it feels great when top athletes cite it as inspiration for their journey. Not only from your country, but also from other countries.’
‘Dangal’ became a cultural phenomenon in China after its release in 2016
‘Dangal’ was released in 2016 with Aamir Khan playing real-life wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat, telling the extraordinary story of the Phogat family. The film was one of Indian cinema’s biggest global hits, and it made a deep run in China, where it surpassed the box office success.
Shi Ming beats India’s Pooja Tomar, who credits “Dangal” as her biggest inspiration
Shi Ming is one of the most promising rising talents in Chinese mixed martial arts. The fighter recently rose to prominence after defeating India’s Pooja Tomar on Road to UFC Season 5 in Macau, and gained more attention when she cited Dangal as a major source of inspiration throughout her journey as an athlete. Notably, it was a Hindi language film centered around Indian wrestlers that made such an impact.
From Shi Ming Harmanpreet Kaur ‘Dangal’ continues to inspire athletes across the globe
Dangal’s impact on the sports world goes beyond Shi Ming. Over the years, many athletes have credited the film as the driving force behind their success. Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur credited the film’s themes of sacrifice, discipline and perseverance for inspiring India’s historic run to the finals of the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
