Showing posts with label Mithali Raj. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mithali Raj. Show all posts
I loved Shahid Kapoor's Jersey but its box office result broke my heart-Taapsee Pannu
8:10 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 13, 2022)
Taapsee Pannu is among those artistes who pick up films that become conversation starters. The actress will now be seen playing Mithali Raj, one of India’s celebrated women cricketers, in the biopic Shabaash Mithu. In a chat with BT, Taapsee spoke about what it takes to play a woman in blue and more. Excerpts:
Shabaash Mithu is your first film after Thappad (2020) that will release in the theatres. Are you nervous?
I am! We’ve lost touch with the feeling of having butterflies in our stomachs, the pressure of the numbers over the weekend and the audience verdict. Every film has a taker on OTT, but in a theatre, the sheer pull of the actor and the film is tested. It is nerve-wracking to be back in this position and it’s cool to be here.
I have a responsibility on my shoulders, and I had missed feeling this pressure. The audience is so used to consuming content at its own pace that bringing them out for a community-viewing experience is a big deal. We’re banking on cricket, which is loved so much in our country and this is the first time we will see a woman in blue on the screen. Having said that, nothing can be predicted.
I loved Jersey (headlined by Shahid Kapoor), but its box office result broke my heart. I can’t wrap my head around it. And yet, nothing should stop us from taking those risks. We can never get over that fear ki audience aayegi ki nahi. This is the time for the audience to show its faith and love for you. This is our reality check. The day the box office stops making me nervous, I’ll know that I’ve become indifferent towards my work and it’s time to change my job!
Shabaash Mithu was made over two years. The director was changed after the film briefly went on the floor. What kept you so deeply invested in the project all along?
When the studio approached me, the film was just an idea. They needed someone who could commit time and dedication to portray someone like Mithali Raj, who has numerous achievements to her credit and stands for some extremely vital changes in our society. One had to commit time and effort to learn the sport first and then, understand the person who one was offered to emulate. I was excited to play her, but I didn’t know how challenging it would get at multiple levels. When I read and heard the script, I saw that in many places, the writer had mentioned Taapsee instead of Mithali. The script was written keeping me in mind, which doesn’t happen with all the scripts. Things like these kept encouraging me to push myself harder for this challenging part.
In a cricket-obsessed nation, this is one of the first films that depicts the journey of a woman achiever in this game. Did that play on your mind when you signed it?
Yes, in a good way. I used to train for eight hours on the pitch. It would exhaust me, but that didn’t stop me. I didn’t want to play the sport badly or incorrectly on screen. In a country like ours, there is a weird notion about women cricketers that they don’t play as well or their game is not as impressive. It constantly played on my mind that no one should step out of the cinema hall and say things like, ‘Female cricket pe film hai na, toh itni exciting nahi hai.’ I pushed myself as hard as I could. Srijit sir (Srijit Mukherjee, director) would make me go through numerous retakes till I hit a four or a six as required. Cricketers and Mithali’s contemporaries Devika Palshikar and Nooshin Khadeer and physical therapist Akanksha Satyavanshi, who is also the physio for the current women’s team, helped me in a big way to understand Mithali as a person and as a sportsperson. They’ve all been with Mithali for years.
She was at the peak of her games when we were shooting, so we would only converse on messages and exchange notes.
You’ve mentioned in some of your interviews that Mithali’s personality is completely different from yours. What was the process like for you to bring out the nuances of her personality on field and off it?
Mithali and I are like chalk and cheese. She doesn’t talk much and is less expressive verbally. She’s an observer more than a talker. Generally, biopics have some typical tropes to depict a winner’s sentiment or something heroic — like high-energy shots, some kind of chest-thumping, jump in the air. Here, we had to depict a winner who has led a heroic journey but is not overtly expressive. In many of her clips, I’ve just seen her smiling. I wondered how we would do this and would people accept this. Many of us, including me, woke up to Mithali and her journey very late in the day. We had to take some liberty to bring her emotions out on the big screen without going overboard. She’s had a supportive family, she’s led India from the front, she’s fought several battles to get this far. I needed to understand her as a person while playing her. Mimicking is not how you depict someone. You won’t find accented Hindi in the film though Mithali is from a Tamil family, residing in Hyderabad. Her Hindi is neutral and accent-free. When Mithali gave the trailer a thumbs-up, I was relieved.
Shabaash Mithu also focusses on the gender bias in the sport, which sportspersons like Mithali Raj have tried to address and change in India... The tag of Gentleman’s Game and the fact that we, including me, didn’t know much about Mithali, the women’s team and their journey till the 2017 World Cup finals is something to think about. There’s a line in the trailer where Mithali is asked who her favourite male cricketer is. The way she tackled that in real life stayed with me. As an actress, I have been asked several times which male co-star I would like to team up with. I am not sure how many male colleagues have been asked the same question about a female co-star. I guess the female actor is immaterial, no? It’s this thinking across fields that we have to change.
I’ve been a cricket fan from childhood, but I started following women’s cricket very late in the day. We also treat the men’s team very differently from the women’s team. The conditions in which they’ve played and come this far have been challenging. From leftover jerseys and kits to a pay packet for the national team that equals a men’s domestic team — there’s a lot that Mithali and her contemporaries have fought and continue to fight. The stories of their struggle make me cry. It hasn’t been easy for girls to choose a sport and that, too, cricket as a career. It’s a vicious circle here; basics nahi hain, toh game utna accha kaise hoga, nahi hoga toh audience nahi hogi, audience nahi hai toh…it goes on and rolls right back to where the argument started. It took Mithali 23 years to put a foot in the door. Today, there are younger players and things are slowly changing.
Sourav Ganguly told me, ‘Mithali Raj is legendary. You must do this well’-Srijit Mukherji
10:52 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 12, 2022)
It took him five years to return to direct a full-blown Bollywood film after Begum Jaan in 2017. In a conversation with Bombay Times, National Award-winning director Srijit Mukherji talks about making his upcoming film,
Shabaash Mithu headlined by Taapsee Pannu, which is based on the life of ace cricketer Mithali Raj, his passion for the sport and the changing norms of content creation today. Excerpts:
Shabaash Mithu had a different director on board earlier and when you took charge, the film had already gone on floors. Was it difficult to find your space in such a scenario?
It was difficult. The pre-production work was already over and I had to restructure it. The original plan had to be changed. Looking at the way modern cricket-watching has evolved, we could not shoot matches for real. We decided to use footage, which was the more prudent thing to do. Also, we were shooting with COVID scare still in the air. A lot of locations became out of bounds and so on. So, we had to restructure the blueprint, which was challenging, but we managed well. As an ardent cricket follower, I was clear about how those portions had to be shot and shown in the movie.
We even cast many state-level players in the film, which is easier than training actors to become cricketers. Also, I reinstated certain things that had been taken out of the original screenplay. The points where your vision doesn’t match the writer’s or the studio that’s backing the film, is where you have to arrive at a consensus, which I enjoyed.
Since Taapsee had already prepped herself based on the vision of another filmmaker, how did you get her on board with how you wanted to shape the film?
It started with our first meeting where we started talking about her stance and I suggested some technical changes to the way she held the bat and her body language. Subsequently, it turned into a freewheeling chat about issues like how there is inherent sexism in the way cricket is perceived in India, the lack of focus on women’s issues, how Mithali has been vociferous about these matters and has fought a hard battle for several years. I’ve followed Taapsee on social media, and she has similar views about sexism, pay parity and so on. We also discussed how much the script emphasizes on these points, how the message in the film should be strong but put across subtly without being preachy and how we should do all of this without sacrificing the cricket portions. I was extremely excited to work with Taapsee. I had first met her when Pink had released, and we’ve been in touch since then. We always discussed stories, but I guess the stars aligned themselves for this special project. Taapsee lends herself wonderfully to the role — she’s incredibly hardworking and a natural athlete. Cricket is my first passion in life. I ventured into it as a writer, a commentator and a reader. I’m glad Taapsee and I came together to make Shabaash Mithu.
Women cricketers have not received that kind of adulation and attention that their male counterparts enjoy in our country. Given that this is a sports biopic, how did you strike a balance between talking about these topics while keeping the focus on a legendary cricketer’s journey?
Most of the sequences depicted in the film have happened in Mithali’s life. Our writer, Priya Aven, has articulated them wonderfully in the screenplay. I just shot them dramatically, which I felt was needed. Before every sequence, Priya, Taapsee and I would discuss everything — from the setting to the dialogues to how they had to be delivered to ensure that they don’t sound textbookish. While writing the film, Priya shadowed Mithali, interviewed her and spoke to her at length. After that, when I joined in, I also started interacting with Mithali. She would be at different tournaments and in bio bubbles, but she would answer all my queries. I had a lot of technical questions about the evolution of her stance, her grip, whether she had ever done any sledging on the field, her evolving body language and her stroke-making style. These were small, but extremely important parts of depicting her journey on screen. Shooting the cricket portions was the most difficult aspect. We were still in the thick of the pandemic. Also, there was a lot of rain to be battled. Shooting outdoors was a nightmare. Strangely, the only thing that favoured us was that the grounds could be kept empty. India mein women’s cricket mein stadium nahi bharte, so we didn’t have to show that, which was an advantage as far as shooting the film was concerned at that time.
As a cricket enthusiast, what took you so long to make a film revolving around the sport?
It took this long because of Sourav Ganguly. I’m fond of dada and I wanted to start by making his biopic. We kept exchanging notes and I had researched and figured out everything. We kept discussing things over three-four years, but he was so busy that we couldn’t make this work. I couldn’t translate my research into something concrete. So, when Shabaash Mithu came to me, I informed him and he was happy for me. In fact, he said, ‘She is legendary. You must do this well.’ Now, I hear his biopic is being made by another production house.
You made your first Hindi film, Vidya Balan-starrer Begum Jaan, in 2017. If one doesn’t count the anthology, Ray, in the online space, it took you five years to make another Hindi film...
My first Hindi film didn’t work at the box office. I got Ray because my direction was appreciated for Begum Jaan. Success begets success in Bollywood. Begum Jaan barely broke even. With that tag, it gets difficult. If it were a hit, I would have had more offers. But trust me, I didn’t mind it because I feel it’s important to tell stories, irrespective of the language. Today, I want to make films in different languages. I want to make a movie in Malayalam with Fahadh Faasil. I am in talks for a web series where I want to cast a brilliant artiste like Nimisha Sajayan.
OTT has broken the language barrier. Fahad and Nimisha have a following all over the country. In the last five years, I won three National Awards for my Bengali films. I have travelled to festivals with my material and had a blast. I am ready to work in any language, as long as I work on my terms. When I was making Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga, I wasn’t getting funds because the hero of the film was Pankaj Tripathi. OTT platforms changed that barometer completely. The OTT revolution has given brilliant actors and directors their due recognition. Shefali Shah and Rasika Duggal are the busiest names in the market. I have a plethora of things that I’m in talks to make after this. So, irrespective of the language of the content, I have exciting times to look forward to.
I don’t want to hear 'ladki ne dhang se nahin khela’-Taapsee Pannu
8:42 AM
Aware that her technique will be scrutinized in our cricket-obsessed country, Taapsee discusses giving her all to Mithali’s biopic, Shabaash Mithu
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 30, 2022)
It’s a make-or-break film,” says Taapsee Pannu, at the beginning of our chat. It’s surprising to hear it from an actor who is in the golden phase of her career. But to Pannu, Shabaash Mithu is that defining film, one that she refuses to go wrong with. She felt so attached to Mithali Raj’s life that she gave her nod to the biopic even before a script was developed.
The actor begins, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime film on one of our best cricketers. You can’t make a Mithali Raj biopic again. It’s the first film on women’s cricket [in Hindi cinema], and we won’t get another chance to correct it. I was overjoyed to come on board, but there wasn’t a single day when I didn’t wonder, why did I do this to myself?”
Before Srijit Mukherji’s directorial venture went on floors in April 2021, Pannu trained with cricketer Nooshin Al Khadeer. Her training was as much to learn the sport, as to become Raj on the pitch. “Even when Mithali pads up, she puts on the left one first, as a pre-match ritual. She walks lazy, I am a brisk walker. You won’t see her fist-thumping or jumping in the air. At the most, she will flash a wide smile. So, I had to mould myself [accordingly].”
Pannu couldn’t meet the former captain during the film’s making as the cricketer was in and out of tournaments. “I didn’t even get a body double on the film. Getting the [batting] technique right was crucial. We decided to do as many single shots as possible. I would play non-stop for eight hours in the October heat.”
It’s evident that the actor wanted to give her all to the project. She says the determination came from the drive to deliver a worthy biopic, thus paving the way for women-oriented sport dramas. “This is a cricket-obsessed nation, eager to raise eyebrows when a woman is playing. There are few male actors who haven’t played cricket, whereas there is hardly a female actor who has played the sport. I don’t want anyone to say, ladki ne cricket dhang se nahin khela. That kept me going. This film cannot go wrong. As a woman, you have to [do more] to be at par with the standards set by men, and our chances are limited.”
I wanted Taapsee Pannu to do as many single takes as possible-Srijit Mukherji
8:15 AM
Making an exception to the rule, director Srijit on his reasons to come aboard Shabaash Mithu
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 26, 2022)
It’s not unfounded for directors to be replaced mid-project. By the time Srijit Mukherji came on board to helm Shabaash Mithu—the biopic on Indian cricketer Mithali Raj—not only was the script locked but an entire schedule was wrapped up under the tutelage of filmmaker Rahul Dholakia. While the footage was later scrapped, the vision was set, but that didn’t deter Mukherji, who believed he brought his own love for the sport to the film.
“I have witnessed how her [Mithali Raj] cricket has evolved over the years, and I have read extensively on the sport,” said the Begum Jaan director, who played the sport through university.
Mindful that sports films and biopics are often dissected extensively, Mukherji ensured that he had experts on set to help him take care of the nitty-gritty. “We hired a consultant to help with camera placements for the broadcasting of matches. I decided the choreography for strokes, what stance to take and what kind of cricketing to focus on based on my research,” he said, adding that since films based on cricket often banked on many cuts, he wanted Taapsee Pannu to “do as many single takes as possible”. “Taapsee learnt the sport and didn’t use a body double throughout the film.”
Mukherji expressed his gratitude to Raj for giving him free rein to narrate the story. “Mithali gave us full autonomy to cinematically tell the story how we deemed fit. We shot this film in COVID, so most of our prepping with Mithali happened on Zoom. Shabaash Mithu is a faithful recounting of what happened in women’s cricket,” added the National Award-winning filmmaker.
The film highlights how a generation of female cricketers dignified the sport for the whole tribe of women who aspired to be in the Gentleman’s sport. Mukherji explains, “I wanted to do a film on this, even though I usually don’t direct films whose scripts I haven’t written. The script [of Shabaash Mithu] was spectacular, and the story was power-packed. It is a golden opportunity to celebrate a legend’s life and underline everything she powered through to win.”
Srijit Mukherji and Mithali Raj
Trailer of Taapsee Pannu-starrer Shabaash Mithu to be unveiled today
8:21 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (June 20, 2022)
With the call of ‘Nazariya badlo, khel badal gaya’, Viacom18 Studios production’s Shabaash Mithu’s trailer will be unveiled today. The film, headlined by Taapsee Pannu, is based on the life and career of Mithali Raj, the decorated former skipper of the Indian women’s cricket team, who recently announced her retirement from a career spanning 23 years over which she has captained the team in four World Cups and scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs.
Taapsee says, “It has been an honour and a milestone for my career to play such a strong, determined and powerful icon. It’s a film very close to my heart, as personally, I’m a fan! It has been a hyperbolic learning experience, and I’ve now nailed down one more sport.”
The film, produced by a studio that has previously made hits like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Kahaani, Queen, Mary Kom and Andhadhun, promises to show how women’s cricket is treated in a country obsessed with the game. Unfortunately, even today, with exemplary cricketers like Mithali leading the charge in women’s cricket, people are dismissive of young girls wanting to take up the sport. The film showcases the story of the legendary player, who not only changed the game but also inspired billions of young girls and women. The trailer teases the audience with a sneak peek into the compelling journey of the ace cricketer.
Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios, says, “Women’s contributions in various fields go relatively unrecognized by society and nowhere is this more apparent than cricket. Our girls have been shining globally for a decade, but in India, our society is yet to recognize their achievements. This story that’s been in the making for four years will inspire every girl to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Riding on the capable shoulders of Mithali, this story is a shining example of what determined Indian women can achieve. We are excited to bring it to the silver screen.”
Mithali Raj shares, “I’m looking forward to Shabaash Mithu and I hope it reaches every home and every little girl’s heart, so that she too can follow her dreams just like I did.”
The film, directed by five-time National Award-winning filmmaker Srijit Mukherji, releases on July 15.
I wish Mithali Raj got the chance to play for a grand finale like Sachin Tendulkar-Srijit Mukherji
7:59 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (June 11, 2022)
Mithali Raj's decision to retire saw a flurry of messages on social media, while fans and followers of her game paid emotional tributes to the trailblazing batter. One of them was Srijit Mukherji, director of the biopic Shabaash Mithu, in which Tapsee Pannu essays the role of Mithali.
Srijit ruled out any possibility of a change in the narrative of the film, which is supposed to hit theatres a month later. "The narrative follows a certain journey, a certain rhythm and climax, and this announcement will not find a place in it," he says.
The announcement, he says, has had a huge imp act as "it brings forth a lot of messages, a lot of emotions from cricketers & fans." Says Srijit, "Many people who were not aware of how tall a legend she is, got an idea from social media and it may help them understand the enormity of the legend called Mithali. And her stature and her contribution goes beyond cricket in so many ways."
Srijit, however, wishes the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket had that one chance to play a grand finale, for her fans to be able to give her a standing ovation – something which every sportsperson yearns for. "Sachin Tendulkar got one tailor-made at Wankhede from his home crowd, which made for a fitting finale to an unbelievable career. Mithali could also have had a similar one. But it is entirely her decision to retire, we respect that," he adds.
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YOU CHANGED THE GAME, NOW IT’S OUR TURN TO CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE: TAAPSEE
Taapsee, too, took to social media to share a heartfelt message for Mithali along with their photo after the announcement. She wrote, "Youngest ODI captain for Indian cricket Team. The only Indian cricketer to captain the team in 4 world cups and reach finals twice! Youngest cricketer to score 200 in a test match. Highest scoring Indian cricketer in the debut international match. The only indian cricketer to score 7 consecutive 50s in ODI 23 years from hustle to glory. Some personalities and their achievements are gender agnostic. You changed the game, now it's our turn to change the perspective! Etched in history OUR CAPTAIN forever @mithaliraj On to the next innings of life (sic)."
When I hold a bat while playing a friendly match, I can sense men going, ‘I will show her now’-Taapsee Pannu
8:11 AM
Taapsee, who restarts Shabaash Mithu shoot today, discusses how Mukherji is envisioning the Mithali Raj biopic after taking the directorial baton from Rahul Dholakia
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 13, 2021)
It will be fitting to release Shabaash Mithu by March when the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 will be held. With that goal in mind, Taapsee Pannu is returning on the pitch to tell the story of Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj. The pandemic wreaked havoc on the biopic’s schedule, resulting in director Rahul Dholakia bowing out and Bengali filmmaker Srijit Mukherji taking on the mantle.
As she starts a two-month schedule today, Pannu says her objective is to stay true to the story’s essence. “I am always in a dilemma whether to get the game right, or focus on her mannerisms and body language on the field. But for [Raj], the message matters the most.”
The actor, who along with Dholakia, had shot for six days in April before the second lockdown was imposed, says she is approaching Shabaash Mithu with a clean slate. “Those portions were about her getting selected in the international squad. Now, Srijit wants me to learn things, which I hadn’t as per Rahul’s brief. He wants me to tweak a few mannerisms. I have washed off the previous memories, and am viewing it as base training for the film. Now, we are getting into further detailing of the game.”
Thrilled as she is to tell an untold story, Pannu is aware of the criticism that may come her way when she picks up the bat. “Cricket bat aadmiyon ki jaagir hoti hai,” she jokes. “When I hold a bat while playing a friendly match, I can sense men going, ‘I will show her now.’ They are either dismissive of the woman holding a bat, or they want to put her down. If I face this as an actor, I can’t imagine what Mithali has faced through her journey. It must’ve been an arduous journey for women’s cricket to reach where it is today.”
Having trained for six months cumulatively, Pannu wishes she had more time at hand to learn the sport in its entirety. “Had I trained for a year, I would have [perfected] Mithali’s gait. We can’t overburden a woman-led film; it has restrictions. I hope our stories change things for the next generation.”
After wrapping up Blurr, Taapsee Pannu to kick off Shabaash Mithu next month
8:14 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 4, 2021)
Like any first-time producer, Taapsee Pannu is giving undivided attention to her maiden project Blurr, which is being shot in Nainital. But before leaving for the hill station, the actor met Srijit Mukherji to understand the way forward for Shabaash Mithu. In June, the noted Bengali filmmaker replaced Rahul Dholakia as the director of the biopic on Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj.
It is heard that in the recent meeting, Pannu discussed at length her prep and notes on the character that she has been living for the past one year. After it’s a wrap on Blurr, she will begin shooting for the sports drama in early September.
A source reveals, “The biopic was slated to go on floors in April, but the second wave of the pandemic made the team hit the pause button. Srijit is currently in Mumbai, setting the groundwork for the ambitious movie. Once Taapsee returns to the city, the film will start rolling, followed by an international schedule. The director is expected to meet Mithali soon.”
Taapsee Pannu is learning my mannerisms and trademark shots-Mithali Raj
8:32 AM
Taapsee Pannu with cricketer-trainer Nooshin Al Khadeer
As Shabaash Mithu kicks off, Indian team captain Mithali discusses gender bias in sport and why Taapsee Pannu is perfect fit for the biopic
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 5, 2021)
The pride in Mithali Raj’s voice is palpable as her biopic Shabaash Mithu goes on floors today. In her 21-year international cricket career so far, the Indian women’s team skipper has shattered the glass ceiling, compelling the country – unfortunately obsessed with the male cricket team for far too long – to acknowledge that the women in blue were equally accomplished.
The pride in Mithali Raj’s voice is palpable as her biopic Shabaash Mithu goes on floors today. In her 21-year international cricket career so far, the Indian women’s team skipper has shattered the glass ceiling, compelling the country – unfortunately obsessed with the male cricket team for far too long – to acknowledge that the women in blue were equally accomplished.
The Rahul Dholakia-directed story will trace her journey from the 2005 World Cup to the 2017 outing that changed it all. Stating that she has yet to read the script, she says, “After coming under the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] in 2006-07, we have better access to facilities and resources. We have made great headway in closing in on the gap between men and women’s cricket.”
In some ways, Taapsee Pannu is the perfect casting choice to play Raj. “I wasn’t a part of the casting process. Taapsee is a good actor and keeps track of matches. She had texted me after watching the India versus South Africa home series. She is learning my mannerisms and trademark shots.”
To do justice to the unlikely hero and her achievements, Pannu has trained in the sport under the able guidance of Raj’s colleague Nooshin Al Khadeer. “Nooshin has seen me through my vulnerabilities. She is in a better position to help Taapsee train. She can help her understand how I run between my deliveries. She often asks me questions on specific things I do,” adds Raj.
On her part, Pannu who comes off the shoot of Anurag Kashyap’s Dobaaraa, says the most challenging bit for her in depicting Mithali's character is her game. “She is such an effortless player on crease and with that ease she hits the most classic of shots. For someone who has never played cricket before that is the biggest challenge. As a human her journey is inspiring so I am looking forward to the drama part of it for sure,” she tells us.
To be shot amidst rising cases and persistent fear of lockdown, Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios is holding fort on the production front. “Firstly, in these tough times with the possibility of looming lockdown, cases being record high, a film of this scale going on floor in Mumbai and being shot across multiple locations in India, South Africa, London itself makes it a very significant film. It's symbolic of our ability to keep the industry going even amidst unprecedented challenges on the ground. Women’s cricket has never been the subject of Indian Cinema. For a cricket loving country to overlook the world class achievements of its women cricketers is a striking irony. Cinema has the ability to bring to center stage stories that are unheard of. It's time we celebrate women in blue through the story of Mithali Raj. So I believe it's a film on a really significant mission."
It was already daunting to portray Mithali and now, the stakes are even higher-Taapsee Pannu
8:32 AM
Mithali Raj, captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, recently created a record by becoming the first Indian female cricketer to score 10,000 ODI runs in international cricket. Taapsee Pannu who will play her on the big screen, says that the pressure on her to pull off such a challenging role is only mounting
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 15, 2021)
A fortnight before Taapsee Pannu officially steps into Mithali Raj’s shoes for her biopic titled, Shabaash Mithu, the captain of the Indian Women’s ODI Cricket Team created a record. On March 12, she became the second woman in international cricket and the first Indian female cricketer to score 10,000 ODI runs. Taapsee, who is currently shooting for Anurag Kashyap’s Dobaaraa, will take a week-long breather and then, start shooting for the biopic, helmed by Rahul Dholakia, towards the end of March.
“I have lost count of Mithali’s landmark achievements,” she exclaims, talking about the Indian skipper. Taapsee adds, “Almost every time that she steps on to the pitch, she achieves something of value, something of worth. She’s conducted her career in such a way that it’s punctuated with so many lovely accomplishments all along.”
Tapsee says, “It was already daunting to play her on the big screen, and now, the stakes are even higher. She holds a record for her 50s. And now, she has surpassed the 10,000-run mark. She is one of the most experienced women cricketers we have right now. There is a lot of pressure to play her on screen. It was already at its maximum when she achieved this high tally.”
With Mithali’s recent record-breaking achievement, do the film’s writers and producers plan to revisit the script? “A biopic has to have a finite start and end to the story. Mithali scored a century when she was just starting out. From that point to now, there is a lot that the script already entails. The tricky part for the writers is that she is a legend, and she is still active in the game,” points out Taapsee.
She further elaborates, “For a film, you need a timeline-bound script. There is a point where you have to let the story rest. If one keeps revisiting the script, one would have to wait to see the results of the World Cup next year before starting to shoot. So, we have chosen a milestone in her career and locked the script in such a way that it’s believable and probably, even on expected lines that she would go on to achieve what she recently has. Mithali is such a consistent and legendary performer.”
Taapsee messaged Mithali to congratulate her on the landmark achievement. “Each time that I have messaged Mithali to congratulate her for an achievement in any match, however big or small it is, she has always been more concerned about the team’s performance. I messaged and congratulated her this time, too. And all she was concerned about was the team’s performance,” says Taapsee.
She adds, “For Mithali, no achievement of hers has ever been more important than the team’s performance. Today, I feel tremendous pressure as I get close to the shooting date. I am anxious because now, I am in the last stages of my training. We will start shooting in Mumbai towards the last week of March. I’m getting excitement- wale jitters to play a living, active legend.”
Not everybody gets a chance to portray an icon like Mithali Raj-Taapsee Pannu
8:19 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 11, 2021)
The actress feels grateful to be a part of the biopic as she gets to essay a personality of such calibre. Taapsee shares, “She is an icon and not everybody gets a chance to portray someone like her. She is definitely someone I look up to, for not just her game, but also the kind of ideas and values she stands for. That’s why I love her even more.”
Apart from the biopic, she has been shooting for another sports film, Rashmi Rocket, where she essays an athlete. With two back-to-back films with sports as a backdrop, ask Taapsee if she is getting any inputs from her sportsman boyfriend Mathias Boe, who’s a badminton player, and she’s quick to add, “I think a brain surgeon cannot really tell a heart surgeon what to do! So, I don’t think we can compare and share tips on such different sports.”
The actress further says that she draws a line between her personal and professional lives when it comes to her relationship. “I have a life and a job of my own, which is very different from his, and we like to keep it apart,” she signs off.
I was roped in because Mithali Raj and I have similar life approach and ideologies-Taapsee Pannu
7:55 AM
As she unveils first look of Shabaash Mithu, Taapsee Pannu discusses why she is perfect for Mithali Raj biopic despite lack of physical resemblance.
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 30, 2020)
There is little physical resemblance between Taapsee Pannu and Mithali Raj. But look closely and it is easy to see how the two women have been game-changers in their respective fields with their feisty attitude, and skill to boot. "I was roped in because Mithali and I have similar life approach and ideologies. We don't want to replicate the look to the tee," underlines Pannu, who unveiled the first look of Shabaash Mithu, the biopic on the Indian women's cricket team skipper, yesterday."We want to make it as convincing as possible, but it's not as important to look like her as it is to perform and behave like her. I was constantly in touch with her while shooting for the poster. She texted me yesterday saying that there's barely any difference between her and me [in the poster]. That validation matters a lot. I want her to say this after watching the movie, too," smiles the actor, who will begin filming the Rahul Dholakia-directed project by May.
Before she faces the camera, Pannu will have to perfect the sport, including her muse's signature cover drive. Raj's friend and fellow cricketer Nooshin Al Khadeer trained the actor for the poster shoot, and has taken over the duty for the film. "She taught me the strokes and techniques. I realised then that it will be an intense training. As a young girl, I was a fielder because batting was a boys' thing; they would say cricket isn't a girl's sport," she smirks.
While sharing the first promotional material on social media, the actor referred to Raj's famous 2017 line — one that highlighted the game and audience's inherent sexist attitude. "[She had pointed out] that no one asks a male cricketer who their favourite woman cricketer is, but the other way round [is so common]. After years of being asked who I want to be paired with in a film, this is where I find a common emotional ground with Mithali."
I want to be an Indian superhero-Taapsee Pannu
7:42 AM
Taapsee Pannu on chasing new dreams after nine years in the film industry
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 13, 2020)
Taapsee Pannu recently completed nine years in the industry and flashbacking to her debut film, Jhummandi Naadam in Telugu, she says, “I was a novice then, I’d never acted and had no plans to make a career in it. I entered films with the intention of experimenting with life.”
After 10 films down south, she entered Bollywood with David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor, but still does one regional film a year. “I never used the South as a stepping stone to Bollywood. I never wanted to choose between the two, I wanted to work in both simultaneously. It took a while to find a footing in both industries though,” Taapsee acknowledges, saying she learnt the craft from co-actors and that the South film industry helped shape her basics. “Learning happened with every film.”
After Chashme Baddoor, she did a cameo in Akshay Kumar’s Baby, which got her a lot of appreciation, but Pink was the turning point. “After that people started to expect something from me, it gave a clear direction to my career. I wanted my audience to enjoy the film and take something back, too, so I began to sign up for subjects that made an impact on me,” she explains.
This year, she has four releases, all in different spaces. “With so many releases in such a short span, it’s essential not to repeat yourself,” reasons Taapsee, who opens her account with Anubhav Sinha’s Thappad on gender dynamics and is hopeful it will make people reflect on their mind-set.
Haseen Dillruba, which follows, is an intense love story in the garb of thriller. Then, there are two sport films, Rashmi Rocket, in which she plays a sprinter and the Mithali Raj biopic on the captain of India’s women cricket team. “The first three months of the year will go in developing an athletic body and the next three in learning a game. It’s perfect to play a sprinter and cricketer in such a short span,” she smiles.
The actress also has a yet-untitled espionage-thriller down South, which is targeting a mid-2020 release. And even as she is juggling suspense, drama, action and sport, she is looking to live out another dream. “I want to be an Indian superhero,” she concludes with a smile.
Mithali Raj challenged me to learn her cover drive-Taapsee Pannu
8:45 AM
Taapsee Pannu opens up about playing the cricketer in a biopic, says she will shoot for six films and have at least four-five releases next year
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 10, 2019)
It won’t be wrong to say that 2019 has been a great year for Taapsee Pannu. She started as a conniving protagonist, Naina Sethi, alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the whodunnit Badla in March, then changed into a devoted wife, Kritika Agarwal, who helps her team establish communication with the Mars orbiter in the August release, Mission Mangal, ending the year with a bang as an 80-year old gun-toting dadi in her Diwali outing, Saand Ki Aankh. While the actress agrees that this has been her best year so far, she wishes every year is hers. And with a choc-abloc date diary in 2020, it might as well be. Excerpts from a conversation:You’ve been shooting for a Tamil espionage thriller in Darjeeling. That must have felt like a vacation after a hectic year...
Reaching there was an ordeal; the narrow, winding streets gave me motion sickness and by the time we reached, my pancreas and kidneys were in a jumble. Darjeeling itself was pleasant and not very chilly. While I have done Baby and Naam Shabana in Hindi, I hadn’t tackled the genre down South. I’ll have at least have four-five releases next year, all different from each other on terms of characters. Since I’m going to be on screen every three months, I can’t afford to get repetitive.
Tell us about these films.
Anubhav Sinha’s Thappad will be my first release, followed by the Tamil film. I plan to shoot at least six films next year, three of which will open in 2020.
Will one of them be a commercial potboiler like you promised?
Yes, everyone has been asking me to do one after Judwaa 2. I have signed one and will get to play a typical Bollywood diva and it has a story too.
Buzz is, one of them is Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shabina Khan’s production, Sia Aur Jia, which will roll in the first half of 2020, will be shot extensively abroad and has you in double role.
When was the last time you saw an actress play a double role in a commercial film?
Another new project is Vinil Mathew’s romantic thriller with Vikrant Massey. Does it have a title yet?
No, we have only done a photoshoot for it so far. It’s set in North India and my character has been styled accordingly.
Cricketer Mithali Raj’s biopic, Shabaash Mithu, was also announced with you.
I started following Mithali Raj when she counter-questioned a journalist who asked her about her favourite male cricketer, wondering if he’d pose the same query to a male cricketer. I felt an instant connect because as an actress, I’m constantly asked about my co-stars. When I started watching her matches, what struck me as odd was that when her team was battling it out on the pitch, trying to meet the required run rate, she’d sit calmly in the pavilion reading a book. I was so happy when I met her and got my answer. that’s the least of my worries. I’ve never played cricket as it was considered a ‘guy’ thing. At best, I was allowed out on the field as I could run fast. Now, Mithali has challenged me to learn her cover-drive. She will be helping me with the training so I’m breathing easy as I’ll already be working on my body for Rashmi Rocket, which has me playing an athlete and goes on the floors before the biopic.
What can you tell us about Mithali?
She is a Tamilian, born in Jodhpur and brought up in Hyderabad. Her father is in the defence forces which is perhaps why she is so confident and speaks her mind. However, she doesn’t talk much, so no 70-minute dialogue here. And if you think that because she is a sports star, she must have been a tomboy, let me tell you, she is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. Mithali didn’t face parental opposition but she had to battle to get people to accept that women, too, can do a lot with the bat. She had to struggle to bring a team together, after starting out as the juniormost member of the team.
Cricket is a religion in India. Did you follow the game before you signed the film?
I used to watch India’s matches religiously and would run to my room to do a paath, if we were not doing well on the field. But even I didn’t watch women’s cricket. We have no right to call ourselves a cricket-loving nation, if we make it about gender. Then, we should be specific and say we love men’s cricket because even after the Indian women’s cricket team reached the finals of the World Cup, there was no one to greet them at the airport when they returned.
Do you plan on venturing into production as a solution to pay parity?
It will happen when I have a partner to do the groundwork for me. I can’t act and produce simultaneously. And it’s only to nurture my entrepreneurial side. The pay parity issue can be addressed only when your film makes money. The roles I do are not conventional, so I can’t be replaced by someone else and most producers happily pay me the money I ask for because my films promise returns. I don’t want anyone to not invest in a film because they can’t afford me. I have a reality check.
You made headlines by saying on a show that Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor is where he is because of his famous parents…I’d said most star kids but was asked to name someone. When you have parents in the business, it is easy to get through. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it gives you access. It takes people like me years to get through the door of a director’s office. Also, even after a failure, resurrection is easier for them.
I had interacted with Harsh only a few times earlier. We spoke after the episode aired and I clarified that it wasn’t a personal dig, nor was I undermining his efforts. I told him that I understood the burden of being a star kid. It’s just that as an outsider, if my first few films hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t have got another chance.
What’s your take on nepotism?
A famous parent recently told me that their kid went through a grilling interview with a big director and was heartbroken to be told that they are not ready for a debut yet. I was looking at him and thinking if he even knew how many films it would take me to get a one-on-one meeting with the director. But as an outsider, I have some privileges too. I don’t have a surname to protect, so I don’t come with tags and can be fearless with my choice of films.
Did you feel short-changed when Badla was being called an Amitabh Bachchan film?
When the film released, a particular website kept doing box-office stories on Badla and describing it as Amitabh Bachchan’s film. I asked them what it would take for them to include my name too since I had worked equally hard. I can’t reach Bachchan sir’s stature at my age but that doesn’t mean you take away all my credit. If it was an article about him, I’d be okay with my name being excluded, but this was about the film’s collections and I felt I should be part of it.
So, will 2020 be all work no play?
No, I keep taking short breaks after a schedule wraps to maintain work-life balance. I can’t tell myself that I’ll work now since I am getting brilliant films and take a break later. I won’t get this time again.
Now that your career is going great guns, aren’t your parents talking marriage?
My parents never ask me about marriage. They can see that my life is erratic right now, so I will not be able to have a conventional married life, in which you need to spend time with your partner because you are in a relationship where families are involved. I’ll get married, eventually.
Taapsee Pannu to play the lead in Shabaash Mithu, a film on Mithali Raj
7:50 AM
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.”
Rangoli can’t play the nepotism card with me; I’ve also struggled to reach where I am today-Taapsee Pannu
8:16 AM
Taapsee Pannu opens up on being called a ‘sasti’ copy of Kangana Ranaut by her sister Rangoli Chandel; also the misogyny rampant in our films
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 22, 2019)
From a scheming murderess to a 82-year-old sharpshooter and now a scientist—Taapsee Pannu can’t complain about the lack of diverse roles coming her way. The trailer of her upcoming film, Mission Mangal, shows her character, Kritika Aggarwal, tending to her ailing husband before heading to ISRO to help navigate India’s first and the world’s cheapest Mars orbiter in space. She reveals that director Jagan Shakti’s only brief was to keep it real. “Our film should be a true depiction of today’s woman who has perfected the balancing act,” she reminisces. Being a qualified engineer, certain terms sparked off memories of college. “Everyone else had their lines by heart,” she laughs.Was doing a film with an ensemble cast, which includes Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharman Joshi and Kriti Kulhari, a deliberate choice after Badla in which she was pitted against only Amitah Bachchan for the most part of the film? She agrees, saying when she walked on to the set, it looked like a mela. “I was scared for Jagan, a first-time director,” she chuckles. “But every day thereafter was a party.”
Taapsee adds that another reason for accepting Misson Mangal was the opportunity to work with Vidya Balan, who she has been a fan of since The Dirty Picture and Kahaani. “She made me believe that you can be the hero of your own film. Her energy is infectious. I’ve told Sujoy (Badla director Sujoy Ghosh) and Vidya that I want to work with them, again and again,” she smiles.
And what about her Baby and Naam Shabana mentor, Akshay Kumar? “I know what to except when we’re shooting with Akshay sir. We’re both morning people—though he is a 4 am person and I am a 6 am one—and like to be on time. This time he had a rule that we should all have lunch together so every day, tiffin boxes from everyone’s homes were laid out on the table at exactly 12:30 pm and we would gather for a picnic,” she recalls, adding that since she couldn’t bring her own dabba, Akshay would get her food from his home.
The two actors will be splitting the box-office pie when Housefull 4 and Saand Ki Aankh clash at the ticket windows this Diwali. Taapsee is unfazed. “The franchise has its loyalists, ours is a smaller film in comparison, but since it’s a family entertainer, Diwali is a good date. One of the benefits of a festive release is that people will give both films a chance as they are in a celebratory mood,” she avers, adding, “You’d think our film about two old ladies would be boring, but it’s a fun ride with two badass gun-toting daadis.”
With two critically-acclaimed films out and two more to release in the coming months, the actress has her hands full. “I’ll have four releases next year too. I’m doing a Tamil film now, then, I’ll start Anubhav Sinha’s next, followed by Anurag Kashyap’s,” she rattles off. Quiz her on the Mithali Raj biopic and she reveals that though she’s yet to sign on, she’s excited about it. “I’ve never played cricket and am looking forward to the challenge. I’ve been following Mithali since she asked why women cricketers are always asked about their favourite male cricketers and not vice versa. That remark has stayed with me, as actresses, even we are first asked who our co-star is when we sign a film,” she reasons.
Taapsee goes on to explain that in an interview, she’d said that Kangana needs a “double filter” but in the same copy, she had also admitted that she herself needs a “brain-to-mouth filter”. “We are both opinionated and speak our mind which is a good thing except that sometimes it lands us in trouble. I had said it in a positive manner and not meant for it to be derogatory. In fact, I have often said Kangana’s an actor I look up to, my conscience is clear. It was weird to target me, that’s why it backfired,” she maintains.
She has an interesting reply to Rangoli’s jibe in the post that she is a “sasti copy” of Kangana. “I didn’t know there was a copyright on curly hair, which I was born with, and honest opinions. I’m not going to apologise for it. As far as being 'sasti' is concerned, Kangana claims to be the highest-paid actress, so I guess I am the 'sasti' version,” Taapsee quips.
While on the subject of opinions, Taapsee recently took a sly dig at Shahid Kapoor’s last release on the social media. “Kabir Singh (left) and Arjun Reddy are not the only films glorifying misogyny, there are several others too but not to this extent. That is one of the reasons why I do the kind of films I do, there should be a counter narrative too. I know I’ll never be able to match up to the numbers of this film but that won’t deter me. We are on the cusp of a change and I am not going to give up now,” she asserts.There have been debates about how Kabir Singh is only a “flawed character” but the actress doesn’t buy it. “The problem is not showing flawed characters… The problem is when you glorify them and make what they are doing seem heroic. This character is so revered that whatever he does is not just accepted, it is celebrated,” she fumes.
Does she think the audience would be just as accepting of a female Kabir Singh? With a smirk, the actress retorts, “She was probably not a female Kabir Singh but Manmarziyaan’s Rumi Bagga was a flawed character too and ended up losing her love and getting divorced. The same misogynist people who didn’t see a problem with Kabir, booed Rumi. We aren’t oblivious to the double standards of our society,”
she sums up. However, the actress is quick to say that she doesn’t do films only to propagate a message. “Badla didn’t have one. I want the audience to get their time and money’s worth when they come to watch my film,” she asserts. On the personal front, she has recently purchased another three-bedroom apartment in Mumbai. “It has been a slow and steady growth. Coming from a middle class background, I have always been taught to be careful about money. My father still handles my investments so luckily that is being taken care of,” she signs off.
Taapsee Pannu gives her nod for Mithali Raj biopic
7:53 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 3, 2019)
After playing a hockey player in Shaad Ali’s Soorma based on the life of Sandeep Singh, India’s former captain, Mirror has learnt that Taapsee Pannu is now gearing up to feature in another sports biopic. It is based on the life of cricketer Mithali Raj who is the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team in One Day Internationals (ODIs).According to a source close to the development, the project has generated a lot of interest since it was announced by Viacom18 in September 2017. And while Taapsee and the filmmakers have verbally agreed to do the film together, she is yet to sign on the dotted line. “The formalities will be done once the studio has a director on board. They have also locked the story but the script is still being developed,” informed the source.
Born in Jodhpur, Mithali is regarded as one of the greatest batswomen the game has produced. She is the highest run-scorer in international women’s cricket and the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000-run mark in WODIs.
In June 2018, during the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup, she became the leading run-getter for India (either male or female) in T20Is. Last week, Mithali completed 20 years in International Cricket and toasting the milestone with thanks to family and friends, the changing/ evolving team, coaches and mentors, she had said she is looking forward to sharing more of this journey.
“The film is expected to roll next year and Taapsee will undergo rigorous training in cricket as part of her prep,” added the source.
Meanwhile, Taapsee has wrapped up Saand Ki Aankh with Bhumi Pednekar. They play the world’s oldest sharpshooters, Chandro Tomar and her sister-in-law Prakashi Tomar, in the Anurag Kashyap production.
Ranveer Singh's '83, Shraddha Kapoor's Saina Nehwal biopic: Bollywood is playing the field with sports dramas
10:47 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 19, 2019)
Ever since the 2013 Farhan Akhtar-starrer Bhaag Milkha Bhaag made all the right noises at the box-office, Bollywood has been playing the field with sports-dramas, from Mary Kom and MS Dhoni: The Untold Story to Dangal and Gold to name a few. Over the years, this has become a sought-out genre for filmmakers and the number of films in the pipeline speaks volumes for its impressive strike rate. A look:
Hitting bullseye
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Tushar’s directorial debut narrates the story of the world’s oldest sharpshooters, 87-year-old Chandro and her sister-inlaw, Prakashi Tomar, 82, with Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar playing them. The duo from Uttar Pradesh, also known as ‘Revolver Dadis’, started out in their mid-50s, and have since won over 100 medals in the veteran category across championships in the North zone and at the pre-nationals. With the film Saand Ki Aankh’s team shooting around their houses, the two ladies have been a regular fixture on set.
Panga with Kangana
Director: Ashwini Iyer Tiwari
Kangana Ranaut will soon be seen as a national-level kabbadi player in Panga, which is helmed by Bareilly Ki Barfi fame Ashwini Iyer Tiwari. The film, a fictional tale, follows the story of a family that challenges stereotypes and dares to dream and features Punjabi singer Jassie Gill as Kangana’s husband. Shooting of this Fox Star production kicked off last year. The team is aiming to hit theatres by the year-end.
World champs of '83
Director: Kabir Khan
Kabir’s first shot at a sports-drama highlights one of the most historic sporting achievements of India. In 1983, the year from which the film borrows its title, the Indian team pulled off an incredible win against the then-defending champions, the West Indies, at Lord’s to lift the World Cup. Ranveer Singh as Captain Kapil Dev leads an ensemble cast, including Jeeva (Krishnamachari Srikanth), Saqib Saleem (Mohinder Amarnath), Harrdy Sandhu (Madan Lal), Chirag Patil (Sandeep Patil), Sahil Khatter (Syed Kirmani) and Ammy Wirk (Balvinder Sandhu). Pankaj Tripathi steps in as coach Man Singh. The film rolls in May and opens on April 10, 2020.
John takes the field in 1911
Director: Nikkhil Advani
After Goal (2007), John Abraham revives his screen tryst with football by joining hands with Bhushan Kumar and Nikkhil Advani for the story of India’s premiere football club, Mohan Bagan, in the 1911 Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield campaign. It kicked off on July 10 and ended on July 29 with an incredible victory over East Yorkshire Regiment, an elite branch of the British army. John plays Captain Shibdas Bhaduri in the film which kicks off in November and will be shot in Kolkata over three months, targeting a 2020 release.
Abhinav Bindra’s gold quest
Director: Kannan Iyer
Based on the life of Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, this one has father-son duo of Anil and Harshvardhan Kapoor as Abhinav and Apjit Bindra. Harsh has been training in air rifle shooting since September 2018 for the yet-untitled biopic, which will focus on how Abhinav’s life changed in two decades—from age 15 to 35. The film releases in the last quarter of the year.
Courtside with Saina Nehwal
Director: Amole Gupte
The biopic of Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal features Shraddha Kapoor in the titular role. The film will showcase the journey of the badminton ace as a Hyderabad girl who took up the sport to fulfill her mother’s dream of becoming a national level player and became World No 1. The film is slated for an early 2020 unveiling.
In the ring with Dingko Singh
Director: Raja Krishna Menon
After Airlift and Chef, Raja Krishna Menon jumps into a biopic on boxing hero Dingko Singh with Shahid Kapoor as the champ who was hailed as one of the most outstanding boxers India has ever produced. Presently being scripted, the film will also shed light on the boxer’s battle with cancer. The makers intend to take it on the floors around April this year.
Footie with Syed Abdul Rahim
Director: Amit Sharma
Amit Sharma is following up the success of his last directorial, Badhaai Ho, with a story inspired by the life of former Indian footfall coach, Syed Abdul Rahim, under whose tenure (1950-1963), the Indian team scaled new heights. Ajay Devgn plays Rahim whose life was cut short at 53 by cancer. Meanwhile, the rest of the casting, of other members who will form the football team, is presently underway. The film rolls in a few months and is eyeing a 2020 release.
Unsung hero Murlikant
Director: Prashant SinghCurrently on hold due to scripting issues, the Murlikant Petkar biopic, Murli: The Unsung Hero, has Sushant Singh Rajput as the lead. It’s about an army officer-turned-sportsperson, who won the gold at the Commonwealth Games (1970) and the Paralympics (1972). He also set a world record in swimming in 1972.
Sania slams it
Ronnie Screwvala has acquired the rights to the biopic of tennis ace Sania Mirza, a former No. 1 in doubles, who has won six Grand Slam titles. The contract was recently signed and it’s a work in progress.
Shuttling to the top with Gopi
Director: Praveen Sattaru
Actor Sudheer Babu, who made his Hindi film debut as a baddie in Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi, will play badminton coach, Pullela Gopichand who has mentored Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, among others. The 39-year-old has already started training in the sport and the bilingual is expected to take off soon. Aditi Rao Hydari is reportedly signed on for the female lead.
Bend it like Bhutia
Filmmaker Anand Kumar is working on football captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s biopic. The Sikkimese striker became the captain in 1998 and has played for India for 16 years.
Gama returns
Salman Khan’s TV production featuring brother Sohail Khan as Gama Pehlwan will roll in April and goes on air in July. The show will be directed by Puneet Issar and will be shot in Punjab and London.
Deepa’s journey
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are going to produce a biopic on Deepa Malik, who is the first and only woman from India to win a medal at the Paralympic Games. Deepa, who is paralysed from the chest down, has won gold medals at the national level and at the international level in swimming, shot-put and javelin throw. She was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2012 and a Padma Shri in 2017.
Cricketing factor
Director: Abhishek Sharma
Based on Anuja Chauhan’s 2008 novel of the same name (The Zoya Factor), this one is a fictional story of a client service rep who ends up as the lucky mascot of the Indian cricket team during the 2011 World Cup. Dulquer Salmaan plays Nikhil Khoda, a character modeled on MS Dhoni, Sonam Kapoor is Zoya. Shooting has wrapped up and the film will release on April 5.
Batting with Mithali Raj
Viacom18 Motion Pictures has acquired the rights to the biopic of Mithali Raj, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team who made her debut at the age of 16 and soon after hit a century against Ireland, becoming the youngest woman cricketer to do so. She is often described as the Sachin Tendulkar of Women’s Cricket and is first woman to score 6000 ODI runs. Taapsee Pannu has expressed a desire to play her on screen.
Punch ’em with Farhan
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra teams up with Bhaag Milkha Bhaag actor, Farhan Akhtar, for a fictional sport film, Toofan, set against the backdrop of boxing. The film rolls later this year and presents the challenges a boxer faces in real life. Farhan has already started his training.
Learning soccer from Big B
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Nagraj Manjule’s Hindi directorial debut, Jhund, is based on the life of Vijay Barse, the founder of slum soccer. It has Amitabh Bachchan playing a retired sports teacher who weans street kids off a life of crime and drugs and redirects their talent to build a soccer team. A major chunk of the film is set in Nagpur, and the team recently wrapped up a 45-day schedule in the city. The movie is produced by Bhushan Kumar and is slated to release this year.
Rugby for Abhay
Director: Sagar Ballary
The real life story of Rudrakasha Jena is centred around the historic World Cup win of the under-14 rugby team of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in 2007 in the UK. Abhay Deol has come on board to play the Rugby team coach, and the actor wrapped up shooting for the film in December. Ujjawal Chatterjee, director of Escape To Taliban, is also making a film on the subject.
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