Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan) is a former amateur wrestler and national champion based in Balali, a village in Haryana. He was forced by his father to give up the sport in order to obtain gainful employment. Dejected that he could not win a medal for his country, he vows that his unborn son will. Disappointed upon having four daughters, he gives up hope. However, he realizes that his older daughters Geeta and Babita have the potential to become wrestlers and begins coaching them when they return home from beating up two boys in response to derogatory remarks.