Meet Real-Life ‘Shooter Dadis’ who Inspired ‘Saand Ki Aankh’

Chandro and Prakashi Tomar spoke to The Quint about the film and Taapsee and Bhumi playing them on screen.

Watch The Quint’s interview with Chandro Tomar (right) and Prakashi Tomar (left), who inspired ‘Saand Ki Aankh’. 

(Photo: The Quint/Arnica Kala)

Video Editor: Prakash Chauhan
Camera: Sumit Badola

Residents of Johri village in Uttar Pradesh, Chandro and Prakashi made history by becoming the world’s oldest and second-oldest sharpshooters, respectively. They started learning how to shoot in 1999-2000 when they were in their 60s. Together the octogenarians have won over 50 national championships and have gone on to train many shooters in the last decade and a half.

Chandro Tomar

Chandro, 87, first took the pistol in her hand at the shooting range when her granddaughter could not load it and her first shot resulted in a bullseye hit. After two years of training, she competed against the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Delhi Police, and won.

Since taking up the sport in 1999, Chandro has won around 25 national championships across the country.

Chandro Tomar from Johri village, Baghpat. She is considered to be the wold’s oldest sharpshooter. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Chandro Tomar)

Prakashi Tomar

Prakashi, 82, began shooting in 2000 when she accompanied her daughter Seema Tomar, now a well-known name in the world of shooting, to the Johri Rifle club to learn shooting, as a young Seema was hesitant about going to the club alone.

Prakashi Tomar is an 82-year-old sharpshooter from Johri village in Baghpat. In ‘Sand Ki Aankh, Taapsee’s role is based on her life. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Prakashi Tomar)

Together the Tomar ladies have won over 50 national championships. Both of them have gone on to train many shooters in the last decade and a half.

Bhumi and Taapsee will be seen in the roles of sharpshooters Chandro Tomar and her sister-in-law Prakashi Tomar.

Taapsee Pannu at Chandro Tomar’s house in Johri village, Baghpat. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Chandro Tomar)

Bhumi Pednekar with sharpshooter Prakashi Tomar. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Prakashi Tomar)

Saand Ki Aankh has been directed by Tushar Hiranandani and produced by Anurag Kashyap. It is slated to release during Diwali this year. The film was originally titled Womaniya but was renamed later, since the title was already registered with Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd.