Freaky Ali will be a laugh-riot: Sohail Khan

I did not know golf was amazing till I held the club myself - Nawazuddin Siddiqui

While the trend of making sports biopic in B-Town is on the rise, filmmaker-actor Sohail Khan says that his sports drama, ‘Freaky Ali’, is a film with a twist. The cast and crew of the September 9 release were in Hyderabad on Thursday for a media session. The film, which was shot under 40 days, will trace the story of an extortionist who turns into a star golfer in a bid to win his love interest, played by Amy Jackson.

Sohail Khan said, “The film is about how golf - the game of the super elites - can be mastered by a layman too. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s transformation from a debt collector to a golfing sensation has been dealt realistically. The comic moments during his transformation (when he picks up golf as a matter of chance) as a golf champion is worth watching on the silver screen.

The film is not just a laugh riot but also will inspire many.” When asked about how golf, a sport that is played by the rich, can connect to the masses, Sohail replied, “I wanted to make a film on sports, and then I chose golf and wanted to make an inspirational film that narrates a ‘rags to riches story’. Our whole attempt and challenge was to try and make the plot look convincing and believable amid gags and satirical punches”.

Inspired from Adam Sandler’s Hollywood film ‘Happy Gilmore,’ the film required Nawazuddin to learn the nuances of the sport. “It's an amazing game and I didn't know until I got playing it. Initially I struggled with the swing while practicing but later picked up a bit. Now whenever I have time I feel like practicing the game (smiles).

I realised that the game requires a lot of discipline and body-control. It even enhances your judgment skills,” he pointed out and added, “We even shot the film at various golf courses in Pune, Mumbai and Noida. I have prepared well for the role and even hired a golf expert to ensure that I don’t put a foot wrong.”