In 2020, Salman Khan released the poster for Hawa Singh, a biopic about the legendary Indian boxer who won gold medals in the heavyweight category at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games and dominated the National Championships for 11 consecutive years. Directed by Prakash Nambiar, the film stars Sooraj Pancholi in the lead role, and is set to release on 29 November. Sooraj, who was introduced to Bollywood by Salman Khan in Hero, expressed his gratitude, retweeting Salman’s tweet: “Hawa se baatein karega Singh. #HawaSinghBiopic,” quoting: “Won’t let you down sir”
The film also features Zarina Wahab as Hawa Singh’s mother, marking a significant mother-son dynamic at the core of the film. As a source close to the production revealed, the relationship will be a central focus, with Wahab playing a pivotal role based on the real-life influence Singh’s mother had on his career.
Sooraj Pancholi, whose most recent projects include Satellite Shankar and the upcoming Time to Dance, continues to face public scrutiny. Following a tragic incident involving his ex-girlfriend Jiah Khan’s death in 2013, he remains a controversial figure. One user on X commented, “How is this guy still getting movies despite everything #JiahKhan,” while another added, “I have now lost faith in Bollywood.” Despite the backlash, the film’s portrayal of a sports icon and the focus on a powerful real-life mother-son bond has generated considerable interest.
However, reactions have been mixed, with some sceptics questioning Sooraj’s suitability for the role. “A story to be told wasted by taking such an expressionless actor,” one X user remarked. Another added, “Nice poster, hope he acts nicely.”
As Hawa Singh readies for its release, it remains to be seen whether the film will overcome the shadow of controversy and achieve success in shedding light on the life of an unsung sports legend.
