Sattar minute, sattar minute hai tumhare paas…shayad tumhari zindagi ke sabse khaas sattar minute… This iconic dialogue, delivered masterfully by Shah Rukh Khan in the 2007 blockbuster 'Chak De! India', continues to resonate with audiences even today. The film draws its inspiration from the remarkable journey of former Indian hockey coach Mir Ranjan Negi, whose life story became the foundation for this compelling sports drama, highlighting the historic achievement of the Indian women's hockey team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. In an exclusive interview with Bhaskar English, Mir Ranjan Negi opened up about his memorable experience working with Shah Rukh Khan during the making of 'Chak De! India'- Ranjan Negi, who was roped in as a film's technical director enunciated that he was impressed by Shah Rukh's impeccable performance and how he did justice to the role. He shared 'When the production team encountered technical challenges with hockey sequences, they brought me on board as the film's technical director. During our two-month shoot in Australia, I was astounded by Shah Rukh's dedication. His ability to immerse himself completely in the character translated into a flawless performance on screen.' 'SRK has commendable memory power' 'What impressed me most was Shah Rukh's ability to deliver complex 5-6 pages dialogues while maintaining authentic coaching mannerisms. His exceptional memory and compelling performance were so authentic that anyone watching would believe he was a real hockey coach, not an actor.'​​​ When Shah Rukh Khan taught coach hockey dynamics 'Shah Rukh's attention to detail was remarkable. He pointed out that keeping the ball with a player for 10 seconds was unrealistic in hockey and suggested reducing it to 5 seconds. This observation level demonstrated his exceptional commitment to authenticity in portraying the role.' 'I had read the film script 50 times' 'I read the script 50 times. While I wasn't a seasoned coach, my strength lay in management—a crucial aspect of modern sports,' he revealed. 'I got a call from YRF after 13 days of losing my son' 'The call from Yash Raj Films came during my darkest hour, just thirteen days after losing my son in an accident. Despite my profound grief, I found the strength to accept the role, channeling my dedication to both my country and hockey.' Ranjan Negi played a casting role too in the film 'I was involved in the casting process since we needed performers who could balance both acting and hockey skills. Most actresses in the film underwent an intensive 4-6 month hockey training from scratch.' 'Under my guidance and that of ex-Chief National Coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, the actresses followed a strict training regime and diet plan to achieve authentic athletic physiques for their roles.' Elated to see the growing sports movie culture 'It is good to see that the culture of sports movies is growing in our country. It can do a whole world of good to the sports culture in our society.​​​​' Future projects Notably, Mir Ranjan Negi has also an experience of television. He had participated in the reality show "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa". Now, in collaboration with actress Sagarika Ghatge, he is going to bring something new related to women's hockey on the OTT platform.Original Article by Dainik Bhaskar