People from North East India have never really featured prominently in mainstream Bollywood movies. Because apparently, "They don't look Indian enough." So, you'd think that a biopic on legendary Manipuri boxer Mary Kom, a five-time World Champion and an Olympic medal winner, would be the perfect opportunity to introduce a fresh face from Manipur to Bollywood, right? It could start a trend that would lead to a more equitable representation of actors from the North East in popular cinema.

There is also Bala Hijam, who is Manipur-born and has acted in over 30 films, including a few Malayalam and Hindi (Zindagi on the Rocks) movies. In 2011, she won the Special Jury Award from the Manipur Film Academy.

Masochon V Zimik was one of the hockey players in SRK-starrer Chak De India. Why not give her a chance to play Mary?