Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 2, 2017)

In a recent interview, P V Sindhu had said she’d like to play herself if a film was made on her. With Sonu Sood announcing a biopic on the 21-year-old Olympic medal-winning shuttler, rumour mills suggest actress Deepika Padukone, not P V, has been approached to play the protagonist.

Dippy, as we know, is the daughter of ex-badminton star Prakash Padukone and played the sport at national level championships. A source close to Deepika says, “It is natural to assume that she will be approached to play the part because she is familiar with the sport. Having said that, Deepika is fully invested in Padmavati now. If the part is offered to her and she likes the script and director, and has the time for it, she will surely give her nod. Sonu and she know each other from the time they worked in Happy New Year (2014), so it won’t be surprise.”

Responding to the casting buzz, Sonu says, “We have just got the rights. Nothing more has been decided on it yet. I am proud to have got the opportunity to present Sindhu’s remarkable journey. We will lock the director and cast soon. It is too early to talk about who will play the titular role.”