Chak De! India: lessons in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Belonging [DEIB]

In the iconic final moments of Chak De! India, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team celebrates a hard-fought World Cup win. This victory is not just against their opponents on the field but against internal bias, self-doubt and institutional neglect.

This is a movie that came out more than 15 years ago, but it still resonates. Not just with fans of the movie or sports but also for anyone invested in inclusion, equity and teambuilding.

In the beginning we see the women’s hockey team as a mix of strong personalities from across the country. They do not speak the same language. Some come from privilege, some from small towns. Some are used to being leaders and others ignored. It also portrays the different religions, castes, regions and social backgrounds of the players.

The coach, Kabir Khan, steps in to challenge their assumptions, about each other and themselves. He does not erase their differences but forces them to drop the labels and become a team. He sees people as individuals not just representatives of a group.

The Movie teaches us that:

• Real inclusion is messy. It is not a poster campaign. It starts with hard conversations.

• Equity matters. While some players come from privileged backgrounds, some do not. Coach Kabir’s job is to level the playing field and to make it clear that effort and respect matter more than background or someone’s seniority.

• Culture creates Belonging. When the players stop thinking about themselves as individuals and start thinking as a team they start to win. They have a simple goal: win together. The shift is slow and painful but joyous and worth it.

This change is created because Coach Kabir treats them all like professionals. He listens when they speak, challenges them to grow and never plays favourites. He does not try to be popular. He tries to be fair.

Leadership is not about having the answers. It is about making sure everyone on the team has a chance to contribute and be seen. It is also about calling out behaviour that gets in the way. It is about setting the tone, every day, for how people treat each other and creating a space where people can feel like a part of something larger than themselves.

In many organisations today DEIB gets reduced to numbers, targets, panel discussion, equity training sessions. While those do move the needle, what Chak De! India reminds us of is that those initiatives only mean something when they shape how people feel and act every day. Leaders who listen, who challenge bias and who make space eventually allow for inclusion to really take root.

What would it take for teams to feel that kind of trust and purpose? What role can each of us play in making that possible?

For organisations seeking to strengthen their PoSH/DEI frameworks, write to us on hello@shesr.in to build inclusive workplaces that empower, retain, and elevate women. Talk to us to know more about leadership's role in preventing workplace harassment.