Chak De! India not only proved Shah Rukh Khan as a versatile actor, but also asserted that Yash Raj Films can create wonders with any genre of filmmaking. The film was more or less a biopic on the life and struggle of Indian hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi. The film saw a resounding success and its title song became a national anthem, often heard at many cricket and hockey matches. In a nation obsessed with cricket, Chak De! India highlighted a point that hockey is our national game and deserves as much glamour as cricket.

Here are some of the unknown facts about the movie, which we bet will interest you:

• Chak De is based on the life of an Indian hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi. Negi was the hockey goalkeeper of the Indian team during the Asian Games 1982. During the Asian games, India faced a defeat with the score of 1-7 against Pakistan. This was a humiliating experience for Negi. Later in his life, Negi coached the National Women's hockey team and the team went on to win Gold at the Manchester Commonwealth games.

• The promos of Chak De were withdrawn from cinema halls from all over India since the promo was not getting a good response from the public. According to reports, public were hooting while the eight minute promo was played before the start of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

• A premiere of the movie was held on 9th August 2007 in London at the prestigious Somerset House. Another premiere was held on 10th in Los Angeles. Both the shows were attended by Shah Rukh Khan, Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni.

• Chitrasi comes from Dehradun and has played as a left striker for the Uttaranchal State Team for seven years. When Chak De India was released, she was studying BMM at St. Andrew's College in Bandra, Mumbai.

• Komal, the Haryana hurricane in the film, threw such a tantrum about wearing the saree for a particular scene but after watching the film, she hugged and thanked Mandira Shukla (costume designer) for it.

• Since most women hockey players in the movie were supposed to be from humble backgrounds, the costume designer Mandira Shukla couldn't even use branded shoes from Nike or Reebok. Everything had to be designed, crafted and stitched.

• 200 kgs of jersey fabric was purchased from Bangalore and some from a dealer in Mumbai for designing the sports wear.

• The girls are being put through a rigorous exercise regime and all their activities are being shot to be later telecasted in a reality show format playing a part in the film's promotion later on.

• Neetu Chandra auditioned and got the part of the leading lady of the film. She was later replaced due to unknown reasons.

• Shah Rukh Khan grew a beard for this role.

• To promote the film later on, Aditya Chopra, the producer of the film shot a few behind the scenes segments to be used as teasers during film promotions. Shooting for these scenes took place at Yash Raj Studios during the month of June 2006.

• The entire film will be shot at several locations in Australia including Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.