Kabir Khan and Kartik Aaryan reunite for kickboxing prodigy Tajamul Islam biopic: actor steps into the coach's shoes as filming begins

Kabir Khan continues to explore sports dramas after the critical and financial success of Chandu Champion (2024). Even with the film's protagonist, Kartik Aaryan, he isn't done yet. As per the latest reports, at a Parel restaurant on March 16, the filmmaker kicked off his untitled sports drama based on the life of Kashmiri kickboxing sensation Tajamul Islam. The identity of the actor playing the lead kickboxing star is currently unknown, but Aaryan is said to be playing the role of her coach in the film.

How did the production for the untitled film kick off in Mumbai?

According to a MidDay report, Khan and about 70 junior artists gathered at a trendy Parel restaurant on the first day of filming. Moving away from the high-octane sets typically associated with sports biopics, the production design team recreated the locale to portray the texture of a lived-in, middle-class environment. Aaryan will start his portions later this week when he joins the unit.

An insider informed the tabloid that in the first few scenes, the makers establish the story's foundation in mundane, everyday things. When the weekend rolls around, Aaryan will be present. The actor has been preparing for the role by taking up kickboxing, according to an insider.

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What are the filming locations and schedules planned for this production?

There will be a heavy emphasis on inner scenes and character-building moments during the two-week Mumbai stint. Once the schedule in Maharashtra concludes, the unit will embark on a lengthy shooting block in Kashmir. An insider also mentioned that the film's inspiration, Islam, is from the Valley; thus, it's fitting that a large chunk of the plot takes place there. In February, Khan and his crew had undertaken a thorough recce of Kashmir.

Being the first and youngest Indian to win two world kickboxing championships is a source of immense national pride for Islam. She took first place in the Under-8 division at the 2016 World Kickboxing Championship in Italy when she was only seven years old. Originally from Tarkpora in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district, Islam accomplished the same thing in 2021 in Cairo, Egypt, competing in the Under-14 division.

What obstacles did Tajamul Islam overcome to empower other young athletes?

Obstacles caused by inadequate infrastructure have marred her voyage. Islam learned to drive at an early age, using improvised tools and open fields as her training grounds. After hearing complaints about Kashmir's underdeveloped sports infrastructure, she opened the Haider Sports Academy in Bandipora in 2019. Her academy now trains hundreds of young girls because of the limited opportunities she experienced as a child.

After 83 and Chandu Champion, Khan's interest in real-life underdog stories continues with this project. Aaryan's professional trajectory has taken a different turn since he played Murlikant Petkar; the role of coach signifies this change. Preparations for the film's release are underway, and it is anticipated that they will be completed by October 2026.