John Abraham to make film on greatest Indian wrestler Gama Pehalwan

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BOLLYWOOD: The success of the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on the late legendary athlete Milkha Singh has triggered a race in Bollywood to make films on sports stars.

While Sanjay Leela Bhansali made a film on Mary Kom with Priyanka playing the role of the world boxing champion, actor John Abraham has now announced to make a film on the greatest Indian wrestler Gama Pehalwan – also known as the Great Gama – under his production house JA Entertainment.

John, who is fresh from getting married in December, will play the role of Gama in the film which is yet to be named.

Actor-director Parmeet Sethi will direct the film. The shooting will begin later  this year.

Who was Gama Pehalwan?: The Great Gama was the name of wrestler Ghulam Muhammed who was born in Amritsar in 1880. At age 20, Gama was crowned Rustam-e-Zaman or the World Champion in 1910. His daily diet included 10 litres of milk, one and a half pounds of almond paste, meat, eggs, fruits, etc. About 5ft, 7 inches tall, Gama weighed 200 pounds.

He remained unbeaten throughout his life. Gama’s last major bout was at the age of 49 in 1929 when he beat Jesse Petersen in one and a half minutes. But he continued to wrestle into the 1940s.

In 1947, Gama shifted to Lahore where he died in 1960. Indian industrialist GD Birla gave Gama Rs 2,000 and a monthly pension of Rs 300 when the great wrestler suffered heart ailment and asthma and faced financial difficulties. After Birla’s gesture to their wrestler, Pakistan also increased pension for Gama.

john-abraham-to-make-film-on-greatest-indian-wrestler-gama-pehalwan
Gama the great when he ruled the world of wrestling.

Gama is also famous for lifting a 1200-kg stone in Baroda in 1902. He had gone to Baroda to attend a wrestling tournament. But there was no wrestler who could fight him. So Gama lifted the 12-quintal stone up to his chest and carried it for some distance. This two-and-a-half feet stone is displayed at Baroda Museum, with an inscription telling that Gama had lifted it in December 1902.

Gama has inspired characters of video games such as Street Fighter EX and Shadow Hearts: Covenant.

Bruce Lee was a big fan of Gama.

Gama Pehalwan
Gama Pehalwan and his wife in their old age. Photo courtesy Archives of Pakistan.
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12 COMMENTS

  1. Ye duniya ka dastur hai jab koi kuch ban jaata hai tab sab usko apnane chale aate hai..
    Successful insaan ka koi mazhab nahi hota..he is the son of universe..
    An extra ordinary being..
    Idhar toh sab apni hekdi bandh karo..ye mera tumhara..
    come out of this stupid behavior and instead of wasting your precious time in these arguments learn from him and try to be strong like him..
    Jo kuch bante hai voh apna waqt faaltu ki bahes mein nahi waste karte..
    Voh bajrangbali ki bhi pooja karta tha..
    Sabka maalik ek hai..so dnt run around in this vicious circle and become progressive…

  2. Gama Pehalwan India Pakistan dono ka thaa.Magar Woh ek Muslim pehalwan thaa or India kaa is liye kehlaya q k tb Pakistan ek mulk ki hesiat she bna nai that lekin jab Pakistan bna to Woh Pakistan mein agaya.is lihaz se gama pehlwan Pakistani hi hua.Agar tab Pakistan hota jab Gama larta that to Woh yakinan Pakistan ki hi numaindigi karta hua dunia ko nazar ata.

  3. Gama pehalwan should be known as an Indian. The partition of this country makes different types of differences in the minds of the people of these two countries.

    • He was born in Gujranwala, not India but present day Pakistan. He migrated to Pakistan so don’t steal our legends and claim to be yours.

      • hahahaha …..
        what do you mean by ours..?
        during his fame or his time it was one and whole Hindustan……
        So stop acting like child…..
        Grow up kid .. Be man !!

        • Gama the legend was for all of us……. great athlete, disciplined and being remembered even today. Let’s celebrate his life rather than behaving like this…. I am Pakistani and a Gama fan.

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