The film's closing credits name the surviving heroes of Syed Abdul Rahim's team, listed as of 2023.
The film chronicles Indian football's golden age from 1952 to 1962.
The filmmaker behind Badhaai Ho directs the sports drama featuring Ajay as football coach Syed Abdul Rahim.
Based on the life of Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, covering the years from 1952 to 1962, during which he led India to the Olympic Games in 1956 and 1960.
Keerti Suresh filmed for a day but was replaced by Priyamani, as both she and director Amit Sharma felt she looked too young to portray a mother on-screen.
Boney Kapoor incurred substantial losses after sets had to be dismantled because of Covid and the film suffered repeated delays.
In 1987 Rajendra Kumar brought Dilip Kumar on board to co-star with Kumar Gaurav in his home production "Maidaan", which was intended to be directed by Mukul S. Anand. The venture was later shelved to make way for the film Jurrat with David Dhawan.
The film's sets were damaged by Cyclone Tauktae on the outskirts of Mumbai.
The film's release was postponed six times before it finally opened on 11 April 2024, on the eve of Eid, when it went head-to-head with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
Boney Kapoor said the film was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and their sets at Madh Island in Mumbai remained in place for three years. Whenever restrictions eased, they carried out window shoots.
Work on the film began in 2019, but it was postponed for five years.
The film portrays Ajay Devgn as a cancer sufferer brought on by his heavy smoking; off-screen he is also a chain smoker.
Owing to a five-year delay, the film exceeded its budget.
A film titled "Maidaan", intended to feature Fardeen Khan and Zayed Khan, was shelved; it was scheduled for 2005, with Nitin Manmohan as producer and Puneet Sihra as director.
It opened at the same time as BMCM and performed poorly at the box office.
