Director
Tigmanshu
Dhulia
says
that
he
has
portrayed
Tomar
as
a
rebel
in
the
film
Paan
Singh
Tomar,
which
is
based
on
the
real
life
of
the
sportsman-turned-dacoit
from
Chambal.
Tomar
was
a
national
steeplechase
champion
for
seven
years,
but
he
quit
the
sport
and
the
army
to
become
a
'Bandit
King'
of
the
Chambal
Valley.
Tigmanshu
Dhulia
says
that
he
first
learned
about
Tomar
while
working
on
the
sets
of
Shekhar
Kapur's
Bandit
Queen
in
Chambal.
Intrigued
that
Tomar
was
largely
forgotten
despite
holding
several
records,
he
resolved
to
make
a
film
about
his
life.
Dhulia
researched
the
film's
background
for
two
years.
The
director
visited
Tomar's
native
village
in
Bhind
and
interviewed
his
surviving
family
members.
Talking
to
the
PTI,
Tigmanshu
Dhulia
said,
"As
a
director,
for
me
Tomar
was
not
a
dacoit
but
a
rebel.
He
is
someone
who
had
struggled
a
lot
in
his
life."
However,
Bollywood
actor
Irrfan
Khan,
who
is
essaying
the
role
of
the
titular
character,
said
it
was
a
challenge
to
play
the
character
of
a
dacoit.
"It
was
a
challenge
for
me
to
play
Tomar.
His
life
was
full
of
uncertainty
and
confusion.
I
tried
to
portray
him
as
he
actually
was
in
order
to
do
justice
to
the
role," Irrfan
said.
The
film,
releasing
on
March
2,
also
features
Mahie
Gill.