The film Maidaan, starring Ajay Devgn and directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, hit the theatres on April 10, 2024. While it garnered critical acclaim and audience appreciation, it underperformed at the box office. However, it received further recognition following its streaming release on Amazon Prime.
The film, produced with a massive budget of Rs 235 crore, grossed only around Rs 68 crore. In an exclusive interview with DNA, director Amit Sharma reflected on the film’s theatrical run and said, “When the film was released, a lot of people did not watch it. But whoever watched it only praised it. They all appreciated it. I was making rounds of the theatres and I saw the reaction of the public watching it. It was amazing.” After its release on OTT, Sharma said he received numerous messages and emails from viewers, many expressing regret for not watching it in theatres. Despite the admiration, Sharma acknowledged that audiences can’t be compelled to go to cinemas.
Maidaan tells the story of Syed Abdul Rahim, the legendary manager and coach of the Indian football team from 1950 to 1963. The film also features performances by Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, and Nitanshi Goel, among others.
In addition to its box office struggles, Maidaan faced legal issues due to plagiarism allegations. A Mysore court halted its release following claims from scriptwriter Anil Kumar, who accused the filmmakers of copying his storyline. Anil alleged that he had written a story in 2010 about the Indian football team’s expulsion from the 1950 FIFA World Cup, which he registered under the title Paadanduka with the Screen Writers Association in Bombay. He also shared it on LinkedIn. Anil further claimed that Maidaan assistant director Sukhdas Suryavanshi had discussed the idea with him in 2019 and promised a meeting with Aamir Khan, which never materialized.
