Pullela Gopichand, chief national coach for the Indian badminton team, celebrates his 44th birthday today with an added zest. Producers Fox Star Studios and Abundantia Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. have announced a biopic on his life and career.
Gopichand began playing badminton at age 11 and won the junior national championship at age 18. Three years later, he was named the national champion as well. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1999, the Dronacharya Award in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2014.
A serious knee injury in the mid-1990s could have derailed his career, but he bounced back admirably and went on to win the All England Open Badminton Championships, just like his mentor, Prakash Padukone did.