Javed Akhtar, after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, has established a resolute name for himself in the sports drama genre. Well-renowned in Bollywood for his impactful performance, Akhtar is again back with a sports thriller, Toofaan. Javed’s films possess characteristically deeper meanings, no matter the genre. Be it his friends-oriented film, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara or The Fakir of Venice, Akhtar always manages to hit the audience with a life lesson they weren’t expecting. Toofaan follows the footfalls of Akhtar’s previous films and follows an orphaned extortionist who resorts to boxing after a reality check.
Artistically woven with scenes of poverty, helplessness, the spirit of fighting and the essence of love, Toofaan manages to lure a strong fanbase. Thanks to those scenes and the tinge of reality blended into them by the skilled actors, questions regarding Toofaan being based on a true story are flourishing wildly. Don’t you want to know the answer? Dive in!
Is Toofaan Based On A True Story?
Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Toofaan chronicles the tale of a street thug, Aziz Ali (Farhan Akhtar), who supplements his income by being an extortionist. He is your typical goon who gets into unnecessary fights, beating shopkeepers to establish himself as someone. Ali seeks money, like everyone on this planet, but he doesn’t recognize his search isn’t just superficial. It is a doctor who makes him realise the reality of his meaningless life, pushing him away from his old ways.
Toofaan, no matter how realistic it appears to be, is based on something other than a true story. It is written by Anjum Rajabali, Vijay Maurya and Farhan Akhtar. Toofaan is also considered to be adapting realistic elements from the lives of thugs-turned-boxers. However, these claims are not justified by the makers and thus are chalked up as rumours. This Prime Video original sports drama is purely fictionalised.
MORE: Is 12 Strong Grounded Based On A True Story? Unveiling The Truth!
What Is Toofaan About?
It begins with blood, not of Aziz’s but of the shopkeeper he beats. In this fight Ali is injured, too, and seeks treatment at a local hospital. Here, he meets with Ananya Prabhu (Mrunal Thakur) who criticises him because of his profession. Ali storms out of the hospital just like the toofaan (storm) he is. Aziz has a reputation to behold after all. A few days pass and yet, Ali isn’t able to get the gross look Ananya gave him out of his mind. He then comes across the video of the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali, and vows to walk in his footsteps.
However, his ambitions are crushed when he is defeated in the test match held by Coach Narayan Prabhu (Paresh Rawal) aka Nana’a boxing academy. Ananya repeatedly motivates Ali and sends him back to school, making him abandon his extortionist persona. Ali steps into the boxing ring at Nana’s academy once again, this time with the intention of never losing again. Ali becomes a reputed boxer dubbed Toofaan by Nana who has taken him under his wing.
When Nana discovers Ananya and Ali’s relationship, he drops Aziz in an instant. The caste difference between Ananya and Ali is the only thing that Nana is able to see. Here ensues another journey for Ali Aziz topped with blood, loss, boxing and loads of drama.
Does Aziz Ali Walk Out On Boxing Forever?
After Nana kicks Ananya out, his relationship with Aziz is strained. Ali’s conscience–which as you might have established by now isn’t reliable–foregoes common sense after that. He picks on a match to lose and earns a hefty amount due to it. However, Ali is caught red-handed and is banned for five years. In this period, Ali reunites with Ananya and decides to leave his past behind and start a future with her.
A few years later, Aziz is a devoted husband and father to Myra. He has dropped the idea of boxing again but Ananya hasn’t. She decides to surprise Ali by reinstating his licence but dies in an accident, clutching Ali’s licence in her fist. Aziz Ali returns to the ring for his now-dead wife and daughter, Myra.
Is Toofaan Based On A True Story: FAQs
It is a sports drama thriller centred around the life of Aziz Ali, a local goon turned boxer.
No, it is not based on a true story.
No, Ali is not a real-life person but rather a figment of Rajabali, Maurya and Akhtar’s imagination.
If you are into sports drama thrillers, Toofaan is for you.
Yes, there is a trailer available for Toofaan.
You can stream Toofaan on Amazon Prime Video!