Game Plan

Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan’s Lahore explores Indo-Pak relations from the sporting arena

If there’s anything that can act as one of the greatest bond between two countries torn apart by politics and religion,it’s sports. “That’s what Lahore is all about,” says debutant filmmaker Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan,in the city along with the starcast,to promote the film which releases on March 19. “For once miss the IPL match and go for this,” enthused Nafisa Ali,who plays mother to debutant Anaahad,the male lead who plays the aspiring kickboxer in the film. “In a country like India,it’s very difficult to showcase a sport other than cricket. I settled for kickboxing because I wanted a brutal sport setting,and being a kickboxer myself,it was easier for me to visualise it,” added Chauhan. 

Actor Mukesh Rishi,who plays Noor Mohammad,a kickboxing champ on the last leg of his career,is equally upbeat about his role. “I’ve learnt karate right here in Chandigarh,and it’s coming in handy now,” he smiles, talking about the strenuous contact fights and relentless training sessions in sub-zero temperatures in Ladakh. Shraddha Das,one of the female leads in the movie,is eight films old down south,but she is eagerly looking forward to her Bollywood debut. “I play a psychiatrist on the Pakistani team,and unlike newcomers,you’ll see me covered head to toe for this role,” she says.