Meet the Wrestler Who Said No to Dangal and Yes to the National Championship

Rani Rana, a young woman from Madhya Pradesh, is dedicated to her dream of becoming a top wrestler in the country. And she is so committed to her aim that the 22-year-old said no to plum roles in Bollywood blockbusters Sultan and Dangal, to focus on winning medals.

Instead of cutting corners and seeking fame, Rani has opted to keep working hard. It’s a tactic that has worked wonders for the wrestler who most recently won gold in a state-level competition in Gwalior.

While she may have turned down a chance to appear in Dangal, a film that told the story of the famed Phogat sisters, Rani’s own tale isn’t that different. Hailing from an orthodox family, her own brother often stood in the way of her wrestling dreams because he didn’t approve of women in the family taking up the sport. However, in an interview with The Times of India, Rani, who lives in Jakhara village near Gwalior, cites support from her family as the primary reason for her success.

Talking about turning down working in Dangal, she said, “For me, the priority lies in wrestling. I was selected to act in the movie but I did not want to miss the national championships.”

Photo source: Facebook 

For Rani, her passion for wrestling stems from her desire to fight discrimination against women. She has previously said that she decided to become a wrestler after witnessing harassment of women in her childhood.

You may also like: Another Geeta Phogat in the Making. Can This Sole Female Wrestler From Her Village Reach The Olympics?

Today, she participates in the 55kg category games, which is incidentally the same category that Geeta Phogat participated in when she clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

With her laser focus and dedication, this is one grappler who is sure to go far in life!

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