Bend It Like Beckham

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Parminder Nagra as Jesminder “Jess” Kaur Bhamra
• Keira Knightley as Juliette “Jules” Paxton
• Archie Panjabi as “Pinky” Kaur Bhamra
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Joe
• Shaznay Lewis as Marlena “Mel” Goines
• Anupam Kher as Mohaan Singh Bhamra
• Shaheen Khan as Mrs “Sukhi” Kaur Bhamra
• Frank Harper as Alan Paxton
• Juliet Stevenson as Paula Paxton
• Ameet Chana as Tony
• Kulvinder Ghir as Tejinder “Teetu”
• Ash Varrez as Teetu’s dad
• Pooja Shah as Meena
• Preeya Kalidas as Monica
• Trey Farley as Taz
• Zohra Sehgal as Biji
• Saraj Chaudhry as Sonny
• Paven Virk as Bubbly
• Emma Daly as team player
• Nina Wadia as Wedding Caterer
• Ace Bhatti as Nairobi Grandson
• Gary Lineker as himself
• Alan Hansen as himself
• John Barnes as himself

Storyline:

A kaleidoscope of color and culture clash humorously as an Indian family in London tries to raise their soccer-playing daughter traditionally. Unlike tarty elder sister Pinky, who is preparing for an Indian wedding and a lifetime of cooking the perfect chapatti, Jess’ dream is to play soccer professionally like her hero David Beckham. Wholeheartedly against Jess’ unorthodox ambition, her parents eventually reveal that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to choose between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide whether to let her chase her dream…and a soccer ball.

About Movie:

Bend It Like Beckham is a sports comedy-drama film directed by Gurinder Chadha, featuring a screenplay co-written by Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges, and Guljit Bindra. The film stars Parminder Nagra as Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra and Keira Knightley as Jules Paxton, two young women who aspire to pursue careers in professional football despite their traditional families’ disapproval.

The development of Bend It Like Beckham began after Chadha, Bindra, and Berges completed the screenplay in early 2001. Nagra and Knightley were cast shortly after that, with additional casting completed by May. Principal photography took place from June to September 2001 in locations including London, Shepperton Studios, and Hamburg. The film collaborated with The Football Association, and its title references David Beckham’s famous curling free-kick technique.

Bend It Like Beckham was first released in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2002, by Redbus Film Distribution. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its screenplay, light-hearted tone, and insightful commentary on Punjabi culture and social norms. It grossed over $76.6 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing football sports film then.

In 2015, Bend It Like Beckham was adapted into a stage musical that opened at the Phoenix Theatre in London. The film remains a significant cultural touchstone for its representation of multiculturalism and women’s empowerment in sports. If you need more specific information or details about any aspect of the film, feel free to ask!

Budget & Box Office Collection: