Chak De! India climax took 15 nights to shoot, reveals Vidya Malvade on film's 19th anniversary
Synopsis
It took 15 nights of shooting in Australia and a full year of hockey training to put together the climax that made 'Chak De! India' a classic. As the film turns 19, Vidya Malvade's behind-the-scenes revelations are a reminder of the sheer physical and emotional investment behind one of Hindi cinema's most beloved sports dramas — and of the 12,000 photographs she lost forever when her laptop crashed.
Key Takeaways
Vidya Malvade revealed the climax hockey match in 'Chak De!
India' was shot over 15 consecutive nights in Australia .
The cast spent one full year training in hockey, including a six-month shoot period.
The Australia schedule lasted six weeks , with opposing teams largely made up of Australian players.
All 16 actresses from the squad remain in contact via a WhatsApp group nearly two decades later.
Malvade lost approximately 12,000 photographs from the shoot when her Apple laptop crashed .
The film, directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Aditya Chopra , released in 2007 and marks its 19th anniversary this year.
Actress Vidya Malvade, who played Vidya Sharma — the captain of the women's hockey team — in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chak De! India', has revealed that the film's iconic climax hockey match required 15 nights of continuous shooting. The disclosure came as the beloved sports drama marked 19 years since its release, with Malvade sharing an emotional video on her social media account reflecting on the making of the 2007 film.
A Year of Hockey Before the Camera Rolled
Malvade disclosed that the cast underwent a gruelling preparation process that spanned an entire year before and during the shoot. 'We were taught set plays. That's all we were doing. We were learning it, and we didn't know where the cameras were kept, we didn't know literally nothing. We were just doing our set plays,' she recalled. The six-month shoot was preceded by months of on-field hockey training, with the actresses continuing to practise even on days they were not required on set.
'One year of practising hockey, and out of that, there was a six-month shoot. And whichever day we weren't shooting, any one of us not shooting, we would be on the field playing, learning our set plays,' she added.
Six Weeks in Australia, 15 Nights for the Final Match
The climactic match sequence was filmed during a six-week schedule in Australia, with the finale alone demanding 15 consecutive nights of shooting. Malvade noted that the opposing teams in the sequence — including the Australian and Korean sides — were largely made up of Australian players. 'Yeah, 6 weeks in Australia. 15 nights of shooting the final match. All the lovely women who joined us. Australian team, the Korean team, rest of the teams are from Australia. And yeah, 16 girls. That bond is still there. It's our group,' she said.
The Bond That Outlasted the Film
Nearly two decades on, Malvade says the 16 actresses who formed the on-screen hockey squad remain in close contact through a WhatsApp group. 'We have been on WhatsApp group with each other. Going a little crazy and thinking we should be together. I miss my girls right now,' she said. She described the enduring fan affection as 'a blessing that never stops giving', expressing gratitude for the sustained love the film has received since its release.
A Heartbreaking Loss of Memories
Despite the warmth of those recollections, Malvade revealed a painful footnote: approximately 12,000 photographs from the shoot — covering the entire year the team spent together — were permanently lost when her Apple laptop crashed before the film's release. 'I don't even have one of those now because Apple laptop crashed and all my photos have gone. So now, I have nothing from the time when we were shooting,' she said. She added that the memories, at least, remain intact.
About the Film
Directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Aditya Chopra, 'Chak De! India' released in 2007 with Shah Rukh Khan portraying coach Kabir Khan. The film went on to become one of the most celebrated sports dramas in Hindi cinema, and continues to resonate with audiences nearly two decades after its theatrical run.
Point of View
Not performed. A year of hockey training for a cast of non-athletes, followed by 15 nights of match shooting on foreign soil, is a production commitment rarely seen in contemporary Hindi cinema. That the bond among the 16 actresses has held for 19 years — and that the film still prompts fans to address Malvade by her character's name — speaks to a depth of craft that anniversary tributes tend to reduce to nostalgia. The lost 12,000 photographs are a quietly devastating detail: the people who made the film have less of it than the audience does.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take to shoot the climax of 'Chak De! India'?
The climactic hockey match in 'Chak De! India' was shot over 15 consecutive nights during a six-week schedule in Australia. Actress Vidya Malvade shared this detail in a video marking the film's 19th anniversary.
How did the cast prepare for their hockey roles in 'Chak De! India'?
The actresses underwent one full year of hockey training, covering both the pre-shoot period and the six-month shoot itself. On days they were not required on set, cast members continued practising on the field.
Who directed and produced 'Chak De! India'?
'Chak De! India' was directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Aditya Chopra. It released in 2007 with Shah Rukh Khan playing coach Kabir Khan.
What happened to Vidya Malvade's photos from the shoot?
Malvade revealed that approximately 12,000 photographs from the shoot were permanently lost when her Apple laptop crashed before the film's release. She says she now has no photographs from that period, only memories.
Are the cast members of 'Chak De! India' still in touch?
Yes. Malvade confirmed that all 16 actresses who played members of the hockey squad remain connected through a WhatsApp group nearly two decades after the film's release.
