Aamir Khan's Mom Suggested Sakshi Tanwar for 'Dangal' Role

In November 2025, a newly released video from Aamir Khan Productions revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes story about the casting of Sakshi Tanwar in the hit film 'Dangal'. Aamir Khan, the lead actor and producer of the movie, shared that it was his own mother who had suggested Sakshi for the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat's wife, Daya Kaur.

Aamir explained that one day, he thought of Sakshi Tanwar for the part, as his mother had been a big fan of the actress on television. He then approached the director, Nitesh Tiwari, with the idea of casting Sakshi. For Sakshi, the offer came as a complete surprise, as she couldn't believe she would be paired opposite Aamir Khan.

Aamir had high praise for his co-star, describing Sakshi as a "fantastic actress" who could quickly incorporate even small changes to her performance. He said it was not just her skill, but the heart she brought to the role that made her portrayal so compelling.

Sakshi herself described her journey to 'Dangal' as a serendipitous one, where the different pieces of the puzzle just came together. The 2016 sports drama, which told the inspiring story of Mahavir Phogat training his daughters to become world-class wrestlers, went on to become a global blockbuster, grossing over Rs 2,000 crore worldwide and cementing its place as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.