BOMBAY TIMES (December 3, 2019)

On December 3, 1982, an Indian cricket legend was born — Mithali Dorai Raj. Coinciding with her birthday today, Viacom18 Studios has announced their next film, Shabaash Mithu, which is based on the life of the former captain of the national women’s cricket team.

The studio, which has backed several movies with strong women characters — Kahaani (2012), Queen (2014), Mary Kom (2014) and Padmaavat (2018) — has roped in Taapsee Pannu to headline the film, which will be directed by Rahul Dholakia.

Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios, says, “The idea for this story struck me about a year ago while watching the movie, Hidden Figures. After securing the rights, we worked with several external writers to develop the script. However, it was our creative director Priya Aven, who finally cracked the script I was looking for. So, it’s a completely home-grown film for us. Mithali Raj is a name that stands for women power in the world of Indian cricket. Playing her will be Taapsee, who is not just a powerhouse of talent, but also the face of the new-age woman in Bollywood. We are proud to present the untold story of the rise of Indian women’s cricket on screen.”

Mithali adds, “I have always stood for and voiced my opinion for equal opportunity for women, not just in cricket, but in all fields. I want to thank Ajit Andhare and the studio for not just bringing alive my story on screen, but for also giving me a bigger platform to reach out to young women who dare to dream.”

Taapsee shares, “It’s an honour to play the role of India’s most successful captain as far as women’s cricket is concerned. Though I have already started feeling the pressure of stepping into her shoes, I don’t want to trade this place with anyone else. Mithali has always been brave and strong to back the truth, and that is why I connect with her. She has changed the way women’s cricket is perceived in India and her story is truly worth telling. Kudos to the studio for choosing to tell this tale. I look forward to working with Rahul Dholakia for this first-of-its-kind story and to learn a sport, which is treated as a religion in our country.”