 Shortly after the film's release, the media began referring to the 16 actresses who portrayed the players as the ""Chak De" girls".The panel of judges at the Screen Awards also used the term, awarding the 2008 Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress to the ""Chak De" girls".A brief article about the victorious women's team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games inspired screenwriter Jaideep Sahni to create a film about the Indian women's hockey team, and he modeled Kabir Khan on hockey coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik.