'When it's a hero, they change it to a Muslim': Anu Kapoor's remark on changing Hindu coach name in Chak De! India sparks debate

Hindi film industry actor Anu Kapoor has sparked a debate on social media platforms like X (former Twitter) after he openly called out filmmakers for promoting Muslim characters in movies instead of real Hindu individuals. An ANI interview clip is going viral on the internet where Anu Kapoor can be seen bashing Bollywood film Chak De! India and claiming that the original story of the movie was based on a Hindu coach named Ranjan Negi, but for propaganda to promote Muslims and mock Hindus, the main character was changed and named Kabir Khan, a Muslim man.

*Chak De India movie*
-It was based on a coach named Ranjan Negi
-Makers changed the name of the character as Kabir Khan

When it¡¯s a hero, they change it to a Muslim. When it¡¯s a villain, they change it to a Hindu.... pic.twitter.com/awcbnUcaRf

¡ª Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) October 24, 2024

The ANI interview clip is being shared widely on X, and the comment sections of those are getting flooded with divided opinions. Here's what the X users are saying about Anu Kapoor's statement:

One of the X users who agreed with Anu's claims in the interview wrote, "When it¡¯s a hero, they change it to a Muslim. When it¡¯s a villain, they change it to a Hindu."

Another user on the whole matter wrote, "Interesting take on ¡®Chak De! India¡¯¡ªthe name changes definitely raise questions about representation. Is it a matter of storytelling or something deeper?"

One even blamed it on the whole Bollywood and wrote, "Bollywood has exploited Hindus so much after Mogul and Britishers. They are the biggest enemy of Hindus."

There were not all who agreed with what Anu said. There is also a section of X users who thought these were only claims.

Kabir Khan in Chak De! India was played by Shah Rukh Khan

In the Indian Hindi-language sports drama movie Chak De! India, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan played Kabir Khan, a former captain of the India men's hockey team who, after a loss to Pakistan, gets ostracised from the sport owing to religious prejudice.

The coach is later shown working towards an attempt to redeem himself and becomes the coach of the Indian national women's hockey team.

Is Chak De! India actually inspired by real-life coach Ranjan Negi?

Yes, the movie is actually based on the life of Ranjan Negi. As per reports, one of the screenwriters behind the movie, Jaideep Sahni, was inspired by the India women's national field hockey team's win at the 2002 Commonwealth Games to develop Chak De! India's script. He read it in the newspaper and was convinced to work on the script. Though the screenplay and characters were fictional in the movie, the plot was inspired by the real team and coaches.

Main character Kabir Khan and his struggles shown in the film have resemblance to those faced by real-life hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi. After getting suggestions from Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, then coach of the women's hockey team, the writers invited Negi to join Chak De! India's production team.

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