For the last few years, Harjeet Singh hasn’t had time to watch any new films. The young hockey player from Punjab, who led India to the Junior World Cup victory last year, has only focused on his game over the years. And for that, watching films or hanging out with friends has taken a backseat.
But that doesn’t stop him from joining the league of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Milkha Singh and M. C. Mary Kom, when it comes to having a biopic on him.
Yes, you read it right.
The 21-year-old midfielder is the latest sportsperson, on whom a biopic is being made. With popular Punjabi singer-turned actor Ammy Virk playing the lead role, Harjeet’s biopic has been titled Harjeeta . The Punjabi film directed by Vijay Kumar Arora will hit the floor next month, and is scheduled to release next year.
And more importantly, this is going to be an official biopic of Harjeet and will narrate his rags to riches story. “The film will revolve around my life and the India junior team’s performance in the World Cup,” Harjeet confirms to Sportstar on Wednesday.
The youngster, who is presently camping with the Indian senior team in Bengaluru for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, admits that Virk proposed the idea after the Indian team won the Junior World Cup last year. “Virk paaji hosted a dinner party for us, and that’s where he proposed the idea. I was bowled over by his gesture, and agreed instantly,” Harjeet adds.
Back story
Even though he shot to fame only after India’s momentous feat in the World Cup, Harjeet’s story is tailor-made for the big screen. Son of a truck driver from Kurali, in the outskirts of Mohali, Harjeet took up hockey as a career in 2004. But it was not a head start. With the family struggling with finances, Harjeet’s family was initially not in favour of his decision. But things changed once he made his presence felt in the local league.
While he was picked by the Delhi Waveriders for the Hockey India League in 2014, he was not too regular in the side. However, with the Indian junior team doing well, Harjeet was noticed by the fraternity. “I never thought someday there will be a film based on my life. At times, I wonder if it’s a dream,” Harjeet says with a smile.
After convincing the youngster, Virk and the director met Harjeet’s family to discuss about the film. With the family agreeing to the idea, the process started earlier this year.
While Virk is to play the lead role, other casting is also ready. “I don’t know much about the casting. That’s for the production team to decide,” Harjeet says, adding that after returning from the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, he plans to hit the film sets. “I have never seen a film shoot before, so I am actually looking forward to it. After returning home, I do plan to visit the set,” he adds.
Locations
The film will be shot in various corners of Punjab and Haryana, and once the shoot gets underway, the real life Harjeet may have a few interactive sessions with the reel characters. But that’s for the future.
When he fell in love with the game, little did Harjeet know that someday a film will be a film based on his life and the sporting journey.
Well, life never fails to surprise!
- Chak De! India (2007): This Shah Rukh Khan-starrer was made on the life of former India goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi and it is considered one of the cult films in India.
- Prithipal Singh... A story (2015): This was based on the life of celebrated hockey player Prithipal Singh, who won three Olympic medals, but was killed during militancy. Directed by Babita Puri, the film saw Vikas Kumar playing the lead role.
- Gold (Yet to hit the floor): Played by Akshay Kumar, this film is considered a biopic on the legendary Balbir Singh Sr, who was a member of three Olympic gold medal winning squads. He still holds the record for scoring the highest number of goals in an Olympics men’s final.
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