‘No biopic now, plenty left to achieve,’ says Neeraj Chopra
The Indian javelin star, however, feels that Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda is the right choice to play him in a movie.
Athletics
India’s javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra is a gold medallist in every major competition, including the Olympics, the World Championships and the Asian Games.
Despite his incredible achievements, Neeraj Chopra believes there is more to be done before his life is immortalised on the big screen.
“I feel biopics should be made after a person retires,” the 26-year-old Chopra told the Hindustan Times in an interview.
While Bollywood has produced sports movies on several Indian sporting icons, including Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom and MS Dhoni, Chopra feels his story is still being written.
“We have seen movies made on milestones and in my view, the more you win in your career and for your country, the better it (the story) will be,” Neeraj Chopra added.
Chopra, who hails from Haryana’s Panipat district, has achieved what no Indian athlete did before him. He won India’s first Olympic medal in athletics, a gold at Tokyo 2020 and became the first Indian to clinch gold at the World Athletics Championships in 2023.
The Indian athlete’s glittering career also includes titles from the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Diamond League Trophy, alongside silver medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and World Athletics Championships in 2022.
When asked who he could envision playing him in the biopic in future, Chopra suggested the name of Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda.
“I don’t know who would fit the role then, but for now, I can only think of Randeep Hooda. He is a great actor and he is also from Haryana”, Chopra said. “Whoever plays the role, they must be able to get the language (and accent) right.”
Chopra's rise from a small village to global stardom is a story of grit and determination, tailor-made for the big screen.
Overweight as a child, tipping the scales at around 90kgs when he was just 11, Chopra transformed himself into an elite athlete. Today, he is not only a sporting icon but also one of the most sought-after figures for brand endorsements, TV appearances and magazine covers.