Kabir Khan on the moment his leading man held the real 1983 trophy, recreating history with the sports-drama, and why the game superseded everything else for him
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 12, 2019)

Every sportsman preps up for months for a major sporting event. How long was yours?
Our prep took two years, my longest and most exhaustive, given that everything about the story had to be authentic. Even though 36 years have passed since India lifted the cricket World Cup for the first time, everyone over 40 recalls it. There’s footage available online.

Director Nitesh Tiwari says he’s looking forward to Kapil Dev’s 175 against Zimbabwe because while he’s seen the final many times on TV, he’s yet to see this historic innings.
No one except those present at the Nevill Ground at Tunbridge Wells have seen it. BBC was on strike on June 18, so the match was never recorded. There’s not a single second of footage available. It was a challenge to recreate it.

How did you do it?
From the few photographs and references, and by tapping into the memory bank of Kapil Dev, the players and old-timers, along with spectators who’d watched the match from different stands. If this was fiction, it’d be too far-fetched to be true because when Kapil Dev walked in, India’s top order – Sunil Gavaskar, (K) Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, Sandeep Patil and Yashpal Sharma – was back in the pavilion with the scorecard reading 17 for 5. Thanks to his superhuman effort, we ended up with 266, and then, bowled out the opponents for 235. No one had seen a cricketer bat like that, before or after, not even Kapil sir. I’m glad I got to reconstruct his career highlight for the world to see.

Sunil Gavaskar says it was the greatest ODI knock he’s seen…
He called it a “game-changing innings” and when the interviewer alluded to the scorecard, he clarified that he didn’t mean just that game, it changed the game of cricket forever.

Your memories of the final?
We’d landed in Hyderabad that morning and I watched it with the family at my native home. I was still in school and didn’t understand why people came out on the streets to burst fireworks. Later I realised June 25, 1983 marked the coming-of-age not just of Indian cricket but of the country as well.

I approached ’83 as a documentary, going back to my journalism days to speak with anybody who had a story to tell. A senior barrister of Indian origin settled in the UK admitted that till June 25 he’d been just one of the boys at his tony public school. The day after our boys defeated favourites West Indies in their third consecutive World Cup final at Lords, he was being asked, “Hey, aren’t you an Indian?” Suddenly, it was cool to be one because we were the world champions. This win was a turnaround for the Indian diaspora.

How was it recreating that grand win on camera?
We shot for five days at the Lord’s stadium in London, entering the members-only Long Room where no camera had ventured before, the dressing rooms and locker rooms, then, stepped out on the balcony where the World Cup was presented to Kapil sir. And guess what? They brought out the real World Cup for Ranveer (Singh, who is playing Kapil Dev in the film) too. Overwhelmed, he broke down when I shouted “Cut”.

Among those on the balcony was also Clive Lloyd’s son who, like Gordan Greenidge and Malcolm Marshall’s sons, is playing his father in the film. We had legends like Kapil Dev, Gavaskar to Vivian Richards dropping by. That day, Clive Lloyd, captain of the ’83 West Indian team which had crashed to 140 all out to give Kapil us an unlikely win, was there to support his son. When we urged him to come closer, he quipped that he didn’t want to see the Cup being given away for the second time in his life.

Virat Kohli and his boys were the favourites to lift the World Cup this year, but they lost in the semis. Now, everyone’s looking to you to bring the World Cup home.
(Laughing) You are alluding to the memes that popped up the morning after India’s shocking defeat to New Zealand and put the smile back on our faces. We’d planned to take the day off to watch the final at Lord’s and were equally disappointed. On paper, we had the best squad ever, but World Cup is cricket at its best. And that makes our ’83 achievement even bigger because we were the lowest-ranked team and many believing India should be kept out of the competition as it’d bring down the standard of the game. Twenty-four-year-old Kapil Dev and his boys, many in their early 20s, were the underdogs who’d not won a single match in the history of the World Cup and fought against all odds to beat the reigning champs. That’s something not many know. They believe we were the superstars even then. I’m proud to chronicle this incredible journey of not just our icons, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, but also players like Madan Lal, Roger Binny and Yashpal Sharma, whose achievements have since been forgotten.

The weather played spoilsport for many teams, including India, during the recent World Cup. But it was a smooth run for you.
Yes, the weather Gods were kind; we had a 20-day schedule in Scotland and it rained for six days. On three of those six days, we were shooting indoors, the other three were off days. We did not lose a single day, everything from the cast to the locations to the action just fell into place seamlessly.

Everyone’s raving about Ranveer’s uncanny similarity with Kapil Dev in the film.
Look, for me, it was never a lookalike contest. For every character, I cast a person who matched the persona of the original. In the last few films, Ranveer’s lived his roles. It’s a rare gift he has, along with the effort he puts in. Even in our film, after 10 minutes you’ll forget it’s Ranveer on screen. With visual effects and prosthetics, I could have made him a replica of Kapil sir. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t about the look but whether he was convincing playing a cricketer through 45 days. At times, even Kapil sir’s daughter Amiya who is an AD on the film, would find it eerie. Even the rest of the boys trained in the sport for a year and for the squads of other countries, we roped in real cricketers because the game was top priority.

Deepika Padukone was cast as Romi Dev because she and Ranveer are a couple now...
No, she is a brilliant performer whom I have always adored and wanted to work with. We are lucky she came on board not just as an actor but as a producer too. Romi ma’am is a significant part of Kapil sir’s support system; Deepika embodies her energy effortlessly.

Two years of research and just two hours of screen time. You have enough left for a book...
Yes, a book is on the cards. So much happened during the tournament and we have so much research and visual material. I’ve made films before ’83 and I’ll make more after this, but this journey was unbelievable. I want to chronicle it for future generations.

We’ve heard that next up is a big action film with Sajid Nadiadwala.
I myself don’t know what I am doing next. Tubelight, ’83 and The Forgotten Army, all happened in close succession and after three hectic years, I want to take off for a while before I figure out which of the two-three ideas I’ll flag off.

Kabir Khan is ebullient as he wraps up a three-month shoot for his Ranveer Singh-starrer in London, bang on schedule
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 2, 2019)

On Sunday, Kabir Khan wrapped up a three-month schedule of his sports drama, ’83, in London, which features Ranveer Singh as then-skipper Kapil Dev who led Team India to its first cricket World Cup win in 1983. For the director and the team, it was an emotional moment as they had become close, like a family, during the shoot, and felt a sense of triumph after wrap-up, quite like the historic win. “It was like we had won the World Cup too,” Kabir laughs. “I knew ’83 was an ambitious film and we have achieved more than what we had planned.”

The director, who is also producing the film with Sajid Nadiadwala, Madhu Mantena, Shibasish Sarkar and Vishnu Induri, goes on to add that since logistically it was a difficult shoot, he airdashed to London every month for a year to work with the local production crew to get the required permissions. “Securing permissions to film at some places, like inside Lord’s cricket ground, was not easy. This is the first unit that has ventured into the players’ locker room and the long room there,” he points out, saying since they were recreating a real event, there was a lot of detailing involved in terms of locations and replications. “We had to make half of London look like it did in ’83. Shooting at Lord’s on the last day was magical.”

The film kicked off in London on June 5 and a major chunk of the shoot coincided with the 2019 World Cup. While many matches were interrupted by rain, Kabir’s screen journey was hassle-free. “We have been blessed by the Gods of cricket. We got so much goodwill from legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Jimmy Amarnath, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Clive Lloyd that even the rain god helped us out,” Kabir exults. “When we were shooting interiors, it would rain the entire day, but the minute we stepped out, it would stop. It’s rare and next to impossible for anybody to complete a big shoot in the UK on time. On paper, we were to end on September 1, and we are done,” he signs off on an ebullient note.

MUMBAI MIRROR (June 27, 2019)

At a time when the country is reeling under the World Cup fever, acclaimed director Abhinay Deo is back with a socio-sports drama titled Doosra. The film traces how cricket has changed modern India, through the eyes of a young girl’s coming-of-age story. The film progresses from 1992 to 2002—a seminal decade in India’s contemporary history. Using a first-of-its-kind mixed-narrative format, Deo weaves archival events in a fictional tale to present a unique hybrid of cinematic story-telling.

Doosra meshes two stories of courage and identity. One focusses on a maverick cricket captain, Sourav Ganguly and his defiant young team, and the other chronicles the life of a young girl growing up in an orthodox North-Indian social structure. What brings the two narratives to a head is a single event: when Captain Sourav Ganguly pulls off his T-shirt and waves it bare-chested from the balcony at Lords after the 2002 NatWest final. It was a victory celebration that suddenly transformed into an iconic symbol of national assertiveness for a new generation of Indians.

Director Abhinay Deo says, “We secured our political freedom from the British in 1947. But it was not until July 13, 2002, when Sourav Ganguly stood bare-chested, pumping fists defiantly on that balcony at Lords, that the whole nation and I felt truly comfortable with who we are and with being unapologetically Indian. It’s perhaps because nothing galvanises this country more than cricket. This film presented me with a unique opportunity to chronicle this untold chapter in India’s modern history.”

The idea for Doosra came from Chicago-based executive producers, Masha and Rohan Saideh, which was then developed into a story and screenplay by India’s first advertising Grand Prix winner at Cannes—Agnello Dias. Actors Plabita Borthakur (PK, Lipstick Under My Burkha) and Ankur Vikal (Slumdog Millionaire) play the principal characters.

Abhinay Deo on why he's shooting portions of his film on cricket, on celluloid
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; September 22, 2018)

Set to chronicle the cultural changes that India has witnessed over the decades - with a special focus on how cricket has played a role in its evolution - Abhinay Deo is set to go back in time with his filming methods. In order to do justice to the manner in which the sport was enjoyed in the '90s, Deo will shoot the portions depicting cricket in that decade, on celluloid.

Talking about filming for the scenes of Doosra, he says, "One part of the film, showcasing [cricket in] the '90s, is shot on [celluloid]. The latter part will be shot [using] digital [technology]. That will depict the [game in the] 21st century. Shooting on film has a different [effect]. It needs more precision and planning. Nothing beats the authenticity and realism [of the product] when done so."

In a bid to make viewers nostalgic, Deo says he needed the portions to be reminiscent of films from the era. "I want the audiences to relive the '90s, and many of them still associate a certain cinematic feel to films from that era, because those movies were shot on film [celluloid]."

While little is known about the cast members of the docu-fictional film, mid-day learns that it hopes to capture the cultural change in India by putting the spotlight on various aspects of society - including politics, business and the arts.

Having recently commenced shooting for the venture, Deo had previously travelled to London's Lords stadium to meet cricket greats as part of his research. The film is set for a theatrical release next year.

Director Kabir Khan talks about Ranveer Singh’s recent visit to the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and the prep for his film titled 83 that recaps the story of India’s first win in the cricket World Cup
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 26, 2018)

It was in June this year when India celebrated the 35th anniversary of their thumping win at the 1983 Cricket World Cup held in England. Team India, considered an underdog side at that point, beat a leading side like West Indies to bring home the World Cup for the first time in history, which was repeated decades later in 2011.

Director-writer Kabir Khan will showcase India’s first World Cup win in cricket in his upcoming film, aptly titled 83. Earlier this month, Ranveer Singh, who headlines the cast of this period sports drama, was seen watching an India V/s England test match at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London with Kabir and Sachin Tendulkar.

The prep for Kabir’s venture has finally begun, which he had proudly shared on social media. Ranveer is expected to undergo a month-long training under Kapil Dev, whose part he emulates in the film. However, Kabir insists that his film traces the journey of the entire team that registered the win and not any one player in particular.

Talking about his visit, the filmmaker, says, “While the prep for the film has begun, I’m still researching the subject. I was at the Lord’s, going through bundles of hand-written score-sheets, which have been beautifully preserved by them. It’s a ball-by-ball record of the matches that became a part of history.”

When asked about Ranveer’s visit to the ground, Kabir says, “Ranveer visited Lord’s Cricket Ground to get a feel of what it’s like for Team India to play in England. After that match, he also visited places, like a museum there that houses memorabilia from that World Cup. He was there for a few days. I stayed back for a few more days to visit libraries, meet people and trace records of those times.”

In his previous chat with BT, Kabir had told us about the incredible behind-the-scene stories, which he has culled out of people who had seen the historic matches in 1983, and witnessed Team India’s rise to its well-deserved stardom. “Apart from the technical information around the game, there is not too much information readily available about 1983. Luckily, we could track down people who had fascinating anecdotes about the team and the atmosphere in India and England at that time. What we’re trying to recreate is perhaps the most defining moment for cricket as far as India goes. So, we have to be careful with the technicalities while showing the sport. I am spending time with the players of the team and getting the background information from them. What happened on the field is present on video. It’s what really led to that win that forms the thrust of the narrative,” says Kabir.

While the casting process is on, it’s said that Kapil Dev will train some of the key actors in the film, particularly Ranveer Singh. Bring this up, and Kabir says that Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who was in the 83 squad and eventually became one of the best coaches for Team India, will be a part of the entire filming process, while individual players will train actors who will emulate them on screen.

“There will be a detailed training for all the actors involved because there is a section of the audience that knows these players thoroughly and they need to be satisfied. We have to get everything bang on. Kapil Dev is one of the greatest players we have ever had and he will be a part of the project in as many ways as possible,” the director sums up.

Commemorating the 35th anniversary of our first cricket World Cup win, the filmmaker speaks to BT about his prep for the film that retells Team India’s journey
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 27, 2018)

It has been a few months since the film revolving around India’s first cricket World Cup win in 1983 was announced. Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of the win, which probably no cricket fan back in the day had expected — India beat West Indies at the Lords cricket ground in England.

Director Kabir Khan, who is working on the script of the film, says that he has been approaching the project like a journalist, tracking down people from all over the world who have stories or anecdotes to share. “People have narrated some very interesting behind-the scenes episodes and incidents. I have even been to Lord’s and discovered many old manuscripts. I’ve seen original handwritten score cards of the World Cup. I’ve also traced a bhangra group that used to attend all the matches that India played. They are all about 60 years old now and brimming with stories. They told me about the clashes they hand with the English fans when India defeated England in the semi-finals,” says Kabir.

While Kabir prepares to retell the story of 1983, India’s consequent World Cup win in 2011 was touched upon in MS Dhoni’s biopic two years ago. Bring this up and Kabir, a known sports enthusiast, says, “I don’t think anything compares to the first victory. In 2011, we were hot favourites. What is really fascinating about 1983 is that we went in as the lowest-rated ODI side in the world. There were newspaper articles in London, questioning why India was even part of the tournament. So, India winning the cricket World Cup in 1983 was unexpected. The feeling would be similar if Afghanistan were to win it in 2019. They were a bunch of young men, travelling with a man who was the coach, manager and butler rolled into one. They were given 15 pounds a day to eat and make calls at home. This will be new for the young generation, because today, when we say cricketers, they imagine men driving fancy cars. We pretty much know what happened on the field, the real story lies off it.”

On Tuesday, Ranveer Singh, who plays Kapil Dev in the film, took to social media, reminding the world about the 1983 win. When asked about how involved he is with the film at this point, Kabir admits that he keeps his hero abreast with everything he gets to know about the 1983 tournament so that he is ready to face the camera towards the end of the year. “It’s the kind of project that needs a long prep. Initially, we will shoot portions in India, which don’t need Ranveer or the other actors,” says the director, adding that he is still working out details of whether the asli khiladis of the 1983 squad can be a part of the film’s cast. “As of now, they are involved with the scripting, because the film is based on their anecdotes. Some of them will also be involved in coaching the actors who will play cricketers, because these are living legends whose mannerisms and body language are still vivid in public memory,” Kabir sums up.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2015)

Tony D'Souza waited for a week for the sun to come out over the Tower of London so he could shoot a romantic love song with Emraan Hashmi and Nargis Fakhri, who play Mohammed Azharuddin and Sangeeta Bijlani in the biopic, Azhar.

It's freezing in London and Emraan was exhausted from filming the cricket scenes in the cold. Also, there wasn't enough sunlight to shoot a romantic song, so the director kept delaying it, finally wrapping it up after an 18-hour marathon on Tuesday, with Nargis and Emraan at their sinful best. Prachi Desai, who plays Azhar's first wife Naureen, and Gautam Gulati, who's Ravi Shastri, got four days off.

"The excitement and anticipation around the Azhar-Sangeeta romance is phenomenal here. The song was shot over three days with the actors battling it out in cold, windy London, particularly at night," says the director. "Despite the extreme weather conditions, Emraan and Nargis sizzled and will set the screen on fire," Tony adds.

Emraan has now requested Azhar to join him in London, next week. They trained together in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. During the weekend in Hyderabad, they visited the grounds where Azhar practiced, treated themselves at his favourite eateries and also met some people significant to the cricketer's journey. After this, they decided to not use a body double for the on-field sequences, being canned at the iconic Lords grounds. So it's not surprising that Emraan wants Azhar to see him performing.

Speaking from London, the actor sighed over the biting chill and the fact that he's been running between wickets all by himself. A group of fans had landed on the sets and insisted that Emraan facilitate a meeting between Azhar and them. "So I called him up and asked him to join us immediately. We are shooting the cricketing portions next week and it is always good to have his expert eye on me," Emraan chuckled.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 7, 2015)

Emraan Hashmi, who kickstarted the first schedule of his upcoming sports biopic, Azhar, at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London on July 25, was joined by his on-screen wives Prachi Desai (she plays Noor) and Nargis Fakhri (who plays Sangeeta Bijilani) at the Mecca of Cricket on Thursday. Today, the rest of the cast, which including Bigg Boss Season 8 winner Gautam Gulati as Ravi Shastri and Lara Dutta, who plays a lawyer in the film, will arrive at the hallowed stadium too.

Mohammad Azharuddin had captained the Indian team to a 3-0 series win over England in India during the 1992-93 historic series.

"We will be maintaining complete authenticity and will stick to the three aspects of Azhar's life - his religious beliefs, his two wives and the controversial spotfixing scandal during his cricketing career. We researched the film over six-months of regular interactions with Azhar. He was a crucial part of the scripting and only after he gave his approval to the final screenplay did the unit start shooting," informs scriptwriter Rajat Aroraa.

Producer Ekta Kapoor and director Anthony D'Souza have got special permissions for Emraan to not only bat on the sacred pitch but also practice on the grounds.

"It is a one-and-a-half month schedule and getting permission was a long and tedious process. Several Indian stadiums wanted to associate with the project, but the makers were keen on filming at Lords," reveals a source close to the development, confirming that a few portions will also be shot at The Oval Cricket ground in South London.

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.”

 
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; June 26, 2014)

Thirty one years ago, on June 25 1983, India won her first Cricket World Cup title. The image of captain Kapil Dev holding the trophy high at the Lord's balcony is etched in the country's collective memory. And now, a film is being made on this landmark achievement, allowing the current generation to revisit the beginning of India's dominance in world cricket. Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Founder of Celebrity Cricket League who is producing the movie, says, “It's bizarre that even three decades after that historic victory, we haven't produced a single film that captures the achievement. In many ways, that win was instrumental in turning cricket into a religion in India. I believe it's a story that needs to be told."

Sanjay Puran Singh, who won the National Award for his debut film Lahore, is helming the project. Induri adds, “We are in touch with the members of the 1983 team and they will lend us full support. The project will hit the floors in the first quarter of 2015."

Says Kapil, “Like most of my teammates, I am glad that a film is being made on our journey during the 1983 World Cup. It's heartening to see the trend of movies being made on sports, which I am sure will inspire the youth."

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 24, 2014)

One of the most memorable matches in the history of cricket will soon get an onscreen adaptation. Plans are afoot to immortalise the Kapil Dev-led Team India’s ICC World Cup victory over the mighty West Indies at Lord's Cricket Ground on 25 June 1983.

Refuting speculation that he is planning a film on Celebrity Cricket League (CCL), Vishnu Vardhan Induri, the founder and MD of the League, disclosed to Mirror: “The film will be the official biography of India's first big win that was instrumental in putting the country on the international map.”

The film is being planned on a lavish scale and will trace the journey of the 14 players who brought the Cup home, both on and off the field. To stay true to the facts, Vishnu is in regular talks with Dev and other members of the World Cup-winning team. “We want them to officially be on board and give their inputs on the script. I also want them to take part in the promotions. We will sign A-list actors to play Dev and Sunil Gavaskar.”

According to a source close to the development, the players, who started the tournament as underdogs and returned as champions, will be seen playing themselves on screen. However, Vishnu insists that 70 per cent of the actors from the CCL league will step into the shoes of these legends. “If the script, which should be locked in a couple of weeks, requires real cricketers, you will see them on screen. But, this is a big-budget commercial film along the lines of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. So, it’s mostly going to be actors playing the cricketers,” he says.

The film will be helmed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, whose directorial debut, Lahore, won him a National Award. 
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Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; March 24, 2014)

Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan of Lahore fame is all set to direct a film that revolves around the India’s victory at the 1983 World Cup.

Produced by Vishnu Vardhan Induri, the founder-president of Celebrity Cricket League, the film will tell the story of the Indian cricket team and how it won the tournament that was played in the UK 31 years ago.
It may be pointed here that Shimit Amin was also considered to direct this film.

Says a source, “One wonders why the producers chose Sanjay over Shimit. The producers seem to be more confident about Sanjay’s skills. They feel he will be able to devote time and energy towards a film of this nature.” A source close to the unit says, “The film’s script has been finalised and pre-production work has already begun. They plan to recreate the 1983 moments. The film will be a big project and the makers are leaving no stone unturned to do justice to the story.” It is learnt that the film would cost around Rs 50 crore.

An international casting agency will also be hired for the film.

The filmmaker now plans to meet the cricketers who played in the 1983 World Cup final in a bid to add to the film’s authenticity. The source says, “The film will be shot in those very stadiums where 1983 World Cup matches were played. The final will be shot at Lord’s cricket ground in London. It would be interesting to see on the big screen how Kapil Dev and his men, including Mohinder Amarnath, Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Balwinder Singh Sandhu, managed to win the tournament.”