The film has already gone on floors in Mumbai. The first day of the shoot took place at a restaurant in Parel on March 16, where Kabir Khan filmed scenes with around 70 junior artistes. The setting was designed to reflect a simple, middle-class environment, helping to establish a grounded, realistic tone from the beginning. The idea is to make the story feel close to real life, a quality the director is known for in his storytelling.
While the film is still untitled, there is already curiosity around the casting. Kartik Aaryan, who impressed audiences with his dedication in Chandu Champion, is set to play an important role in this new film as well. This time, he will reportedly be seen as the coach of Tajamul Islam. The role is expected to be intense and physical, and Kartik Aaryan has already started training in kickboxing to prepare. He is likely to join the shoot later this week.
The Mumbai schedule is expected to continue for about two weeks. After that, the team will head to Kashmir for a longer shooting schedule. This part of the film is especially important because Tajamul Islam’s story is deeply connected to her roots in the Valley. Kabir Khan and his team had visited Kashmir earlier in February to scout locations and better understand the setting.
Tajamul Islam’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. She became India’s first and youngest two-time world kickboxing champion at a very young age. At just seven years old, she won a gold medal in the Under-8 category at the World Kickboxing Championship in 2016. She repeated her success in 2021 by winning gold again in the Under-14 category.
Coming from Bandipora in Jammu and Kashmir, Tajamul Islam has often spoken about the lack of proper sports facilities in her region. Instead of letting that stop her, she took a strong step and started her own training academy in 2019. Through this, she has been helping other young talents train and dream big, just like she did.
Kabir Khan’s decision to bring her story to the cinema highlights his interest in real-life heroes and untold journeys.
