Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; July 21, 2015)

The Mohammed Azharuddin biopic is set to roll in right earnest with the makers finally having secured permission to shoot at the Lord’s stadium, hailed as the Mecca of cricket.

Sources close to the project suggest that Emraan Hashmi, who will play the titular role of former Indian cricket captain, would be leaving for London tonight for the shoot.

An insider says, “The makers makers were keen on shooting at real locations so that it lends authenticity to the project. They had sought permission to film at Lord’s where Azharuddin played his most memorable innings against England in 1990 and scored 121 runs against Graham Gooch’s mighty side. They will also shoot some portions at the Oval stadium.”

Emraan has trained with Azhar to achieve a cricketer’s finesse and style, and even travelled to Hyderabad to visit his haunts as part of the film’s research. With a go-ahead to shoot at some of the iconic stadiums, the team is on a high. “The stadiums have been forthcoming to associate with the film and cooperate with the makers. Owing to Azhar’s associations with those places, obtaining permission for the shoot became easier,” the source adds.

Confirming the development, director Anthony D’Souza says: “We are planning to shoot some sequences at the Lord’s and Oval grounds as we wanted to shoot at places that mattered in Azhar’s professional life.”