Ajay Devgn kicks off filming on Syed Abdul Rahim's football biopic, Maidaan

After cricket and hockey have enjoyed their day in the cinematic sun, it is time for Indian football to take centrestage.

Ajay Devgn's biopic of Syed Abdul Rahim, independent India's first national football coach, has gone on the floors today. The film, directed by Badhaai Ho (2018) director Amit Ravindernath Sharma, will be titled Maidaan (2020) and will feature Devgn in the lead role. 

The announcement shared by Devgn captures the iconic moment of the 1962 Asian Games gold medal, the last gold medal won by Syed Abdul Rahim's Indian football team. Having taken over as coach of the national team, Rahim led India to the Asian Games gold in 1951 and 1962, as well as leading them to the semi-finals of the Olympic Games at Melbourne in 1956. 

The film will feature South star Keerthy Suresh opposite Devgn and will be the recent National award-winner's first Hindi feature. It is also the first time Devgn and Keerthy will collaborate on a project.

Produced by Boney Kapoor and Akash Chawla's FreshLime Films, the film is expected to be ready for release next year.