One of the most awaited events of the world, FIFA World Cup has reached its culmination point with the finals being played on Sunday between France and first-time finalists Croatia. While the soccer fever has gripped the world and all eyes are towards the final in Russia, Bollywood is gearing up to salute a man who is largely credited for the golden age of football in the country. A biopic on football legend Syed Abdul Rahim is underway with Ajay Devgn playing the lead role. Rahim is credited as the architect of modern Indian football. Ajay will play Rahim, the football coach and the manager of the Indian National Football team that entered the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Football tournament.

With Rahim’s guidance and mentorship, India became the first ever Asian country to get that far in football. Rahim was a teacher by profession and his tenure as a coach is regarded as the country’s golden age because the team defeated some of the top teams in the world to win the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta. The biopic that is in the works is produced by Boney Kapoor and directed by Amit Sharma. The film’s confirmation came out today on social media as well.

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https://twitter.com/ZeeStudios_/status/1017612493013831680

Not many are aware of the significant contribution that Rahim played in making the sport a popular one in India and it will be interesting to see Ajay bring the man’s life on celluloid. Over the years, several biopics are being made in India on sporting personalities bringing their struggle and hardships on screen. Mary Kom, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sachin: A Billion Dreams are just a few sporting biopics that have already been made.

A biopic on Indian hockey player Sandeep Singh titled Soorma has released today. Moreover, biopics on badminton players Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu are in the works. Films on sports are the new found mantra of the Bollywood filmmakers and we must say after a string of mindless sex-comedies and romantic films they are surely a happy breather.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ajay will be next seen in Luv Ranjan’s film with Ranbir Kapoor. He has also signed Neeraj Pandey’s film where he will be playing the character of Chanakya. The film will be based in modern times and will not be a period drama.