The wave of cricket based films in Bollywood continues to be high. After Kabir Khan’s 83 headlined by Ranveer Singh, coming up for release this year we have Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey, Anushka Sharma’s Chakda Xpress(inspired by the life of former captain of the Indian women’s Jhulan Goswami), Taapsee Pannu starrer Shabaash Mithu (based on current captain — ODI and Test — of the women’s cricket team Mithali Raj).

The latest cricket based film to join the party is R Balki’s untitled next, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher. While various speculations on this film have been doing the rounds for a while, BT has it from confirmed sources that Abhishek Bachchan will be seen playing Saiyami Kher’s coach in the film.

The actress will be essaying the role of a cricketer. Interestingly, both the actors are sports enthusiasts, not just as an audience, but as players themselves.

Saiyami has played cricket at the school level for Maharashtra. The actress even made it to the National team selection, but she opted for badminton state championships instead. Known as an ardent football fan, Abhishek follows cricket closely, too, like his legendary father. We have also seen Bachchan junior being a hands-on motivator and player for ASFC (All Stars Football Club). His immense passion for his Kabaddi team is also known.

Shabana Azmi plays a pivotal role in the film as well. The shoot, which was delayed owing to Coronavirus protocols, has commenced in a remote place in Maharashtra. However, the actors have maintained silence on the project.

In our conversation with Saiyami in January last year, the actress had called out the sexism that existed in cricket. She had said, “Cricket and writing on cricket is male dominated, but with our women’s cricket team doing well, things are slowly changing. It’s not uncommon for men to assume that ‘what will a girl know about cricket’! But when they hear me speak, they tend to go on a back foot. I have personally experienced this.”

The actress also attributed her ‘never give up spirit’ to sports. She had explained, “Sports mean a lot to me. Even in my acting profession, every time I am down and out, I seek inspiration from it. Sports teaches you to get up every time you fall.”