BOMBAY TIMES (February 19, 2020)

Ever since its announcement, there has been a lot of buzz around director Kabir Khan’s ‘83, which features Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev. While Ranveer’s look as Kapil was revealed a while ago, the makers have now shared the first look of Deepika Padukone as Romi Dev. The actress will be seen in a cameo, as the former cricketer’s wife.

Deepika, who is known for getting into the skin of her characters, has left no stone unturned to capture the nuances of the role. She shares, “To be able to play a small, but significant part in a film that captures one of the most iconic moments in sporting history has been an absolute honour. Through my mother, I’ve seen closely the role a wife plays in the success of her husband’s professional and personal aspirations. ‘83, for me, in many ways is an ode to every woman who puts her husband’s dream before her own.”

Kabir Khan shares, “I have always thought of Deepika as a phenomenal actress and when I was thinking of casting for Romi Dev’s role, I could only think of her. Romi has a charming and positive energy and Deepika has captured that with perfection. Her easy chemistry with Ranveer will also help in portraying the relationship that Kapil and Romi share. I’m delighted that Deepika has been such an integral part of our journey.”

Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Films present ‘83, a Kabir Khan Films Production. The film is produced by Deepika Padukone, Kabir Khan, Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Sajid Nadiadwala, Phantom Films, Reliance Entertainment and 83 Film Ltd. A Reliance Entertainment and PVR Pictures release, it will hit theatres on April 10, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

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on the moment his leading man held the real 1983 trophy, recreating history with the sports-drama, and why the game superseded everything else for him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.

Having wrapped up the shoot of '83, maker reveals how Kapil Dev's wife Romi was stunned by Deepika Padukone's look that was modelled on her
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 8, 2019)

After stints in London and Scotland, the shoot of Ranveer Singh's ambitious sports drama, '83 — based on India's World Cup victory over the West Indies — has finally drawn to a close. While director Kabir Khan unveiled Singh's look as then-skipper Kapil Dev, the makers have carefully kept the on-screen avatar of Deepika Padukone — who plays Dev's wife Romi Bhatia — under wraps. Buzz is that Padukone, with the help of makeup artist Clover Wootton, has become a spitting image of her muse in the film.

A source from the creative team reveals, "When Deepika was shooting for her portions in London in July, Kapil Dev and wife Romi had casually dropped in once on the sets. While Romi had met the actor several times before, this was the first time she was seeing her sport her on-screen avatar. Romi was surprised by her transformation. In the film, Dippy sports a shorter hairdo, but has not resorted to using prosthetics. The makers plan to reveal her look as part of the run-up to the teaser's release." The source adds that Padukone also imbibed her subject's soft-spoken nature. "During their meetings, Dippy would carefully study her behaviour and has brought these traits alive in front of the camera."

Confirming the news, producer Vishnu Induri says, "When Romi saw Deepika on the set, she remarked that she was looking at a mirror image of herself, from 20 years ago. There is a striking similarity. Kabir and Ranveer had met the Devs at their Delhi home for 10 days before the London schedule, so the director had the opportunity to discuss the inputs with Deepika before they began the shoot."

Deepika Padukone on playing Kapil Dev’s wife in Kabir Khan’s upcoming sports-drama, which recreates India’s first cricket World Cup win and is fronted by her husband, Ranveer Singh, who plays the former skipper
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 13, 2019)

After wrapping up her maiden home production, Chhapaak, in which her protagonist is inspired by acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, Deepika Padukone had air-dashed to London for ’83. The sports-drama is fronted by her better half, Ranveer Singh, who is playing the role of Kapil Dev, the former Indian cricket captain who lead the team to World Cup victory. The actress plays the skipper’s wife, Romi Dev, in the Kabir Khan directorial. The film marks the couple’s first collaboration since they tied the knot in November last year.

Ask Deepika if the couple’s real life chemistry will reflect on screen and she says, “As actors, you don’t think about your personal equations while doing a film. You are fully focused on the moment and the character. You cease to exist as the person you are and only live the character that you are playing. Our personal equation won’t have any role to play in this film.”

Before joining the team in the Queen’s city, the actress had multiple interactions with Romi to get the nuances of her character right. “I feel so inspired every time I meet her. She has an extremely refreshing energy, is intelligent, knowledgeable, and funny,” she smiles. What’s the one quality she admires about her muse? “I like her candour. Romi ji is someone who is extremely honest and when she needs to express herself, she does it with a lot of dignity. I like the way she conducts herself with so much grace,” Deepika asserts.

Kapil Dev has spoken on several occasions about the role his wife has played in his success as a cricketer. Deepika agrees that Romi is his support system and explains that this was what got her on board. “At the end of day, for any champion, the drive, commitment and dedication must come from within. But yes, having a solid support system is important as it allows the person to work without holding back, without any kind of emotional burden. In that sense, Romi ji has played an extremely important part in Kapil Dev’s success,” she reasons, adding that this shows how much Romi admires Kapil for who he is, beyond his success. “In a way, I think this has also helped him stay grounded. These characteristics are very important in the journey to success.”

The film went on the floors on June 5 in Glasgow and Deepika joined the team during the London schedule. After finishing her portions, she returned to India and will be resuming work on the film in the upcoming schedules which will take place back home. “It has been fun; it’s a passion project. The boys are having a lot of fun because cricket is obviously something that they all enjoy playing, so they don’t feel like they are shooting,” she informs.

In a crucial game against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, India was struggling at 17 runs at the loss of five wickets, when Kapil Dev took charge, scoring match-winning 175 runs in 138 balls to take his team into the semi-finals. Sunil Gavaskar labeled it as the greatest ODI knock ever. However, the match was not recorded and apart from the spectators in the stadium, not many got to witness this historic innings by the former Indian captain. “Certain moments were not captured on camera, and I think the closest we will ever get to that is through this film, that’s what makes the journey really exciting,” Deepika points out.

That apart, she believes it is important to tell this story for two reasons — for the youngsters who don’t realize what a great victory it was and for the ones who witnessed it. “So, it will be a great film to enlighten a generation that was probably not around during the 1983 World Cup and relive the memories with those who were,” informs Deepika.

Ranveer’s look as Kapil Dev took the digital world by surprise, as one couldn’t find too many differences between the real and the reel.

What can one expect from Deepika’s Romi? “Wait and watch,” she winks.

Lastly, badminton ace Prakash Padukone’s daughter articulates her thoughts on India’s first World Cup win. “I find the victories of athletes in the past were hard-fought and well-earned because of the circumstances in which they won these trophies — the lack of infrastructure, finance and knowledge. Anyone who won in that time, be it in cricket or any other sport, did it with sheer determination and passion. Today, I feel there is a lot more awareness, the facilities are better and so is the infrastructure,” she concludes.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; July 24, 2019)

After wrapping up her maiden production, Chhapaak, in which Deepika Padukone essays the role of an acid-attack survivor, Malti, inspired by the real-life personality Laxmi Agarwal, the actress got on board for '83 based on India’s Cricket World Cup victory in 1983. The film, which she is also co-producing, has Ranveer Singh stepping into the shoes of Kapil Dev as the team’s captain and Dippy essays his wife Romi Bhatia.

Incidentally, this will be the first film the duo is doing together after their marriage and what’s interesting is they play a married couple on screen as well. The leggy beauty had less than 48 hours to switch from her character as Malti to Romi as there was only a gap of two days between the shoots. She finished her last schedule of Chhapaak in Mumbai and the next day left for the shoot of '83 in Glasgow, London. “Deepika plays an intense character in Chhapaak, where she had to go deep into the life of Laxmi. Romi is completely different, so she had to let go of the emotional journey of the former and have a clean slate before starting her next shoot,” says the source.

Deepika shares that detaching herself from a role always takes a while especially if it’s an intense one. “In fact, I’ve always believed that a character never really leaves your system entirely. This time around, I took to cleaning and organising things around my home to help me cope with switching from Laxmi to Romi Dev in '83. It helped me de-stress and clear my mind of any clutter,” she reveals.

After 2019 cricket championship draws to a close next month, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone to film 1983 victory at London's iconic ground
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 26, 2019)

As Virat Kohli and his Men In Blue tour across England in their bid to bring the 2019 World Cup trophy home, director Kabir Khan and his on-screen cricket team have been recreating the 1983 World Cup matches in Scotland. However, the shoot of the final — that saw skipper Kapil Dev's XI take on the championship favourites West Indies — has been scheduled for July-end. mid-day has learnt that as the World Cup draws to a close, Ranveer Singh and his boys will hit the pitch at Lord's cricket ground to reimagine India's thumping victory.

A source from the creative team of the Vishnu Induri, Madhu Mantena and Sajid Nadiadwala production says, "Kabir has designed the schedule in such a way that the unit will finish filming pivotal matches by mid-July. By then, the ongoing World Cup will wrap up. The unit will then head to Lord's to shoot the 1983 World Cup final, which forms the climax of the sports drama. Deepika Padukone, who plays Kapil Dev's wife Romi, will join them in England to shoot the sequences. It is well-known that Romi had walked out of the stadium midway, assuming that India would lose the match. She then tried re-entering the ground when India started taking wickets but was unable to do so as she had given her pass away. This anecdote will be shown on screen."

The source adds that the team has already shot for the memorable India-Zimbabwe match that saw Dev scoring 175 runs off 138 balls.


Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath lift the 1983 World Cup trophy

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 10, 2019)

Ranveer Singh, who plays Kapil Dev in Kabir Khan’s ’83, has found his Romi Bhatia (the legendary cricketer’s wife) in Deepika Padukone. Not only that, but Deepika has also come on board as the co-producer of the film. The project will see the Bollywood power couple reunite for the first time after their marriage. Deepika says it was one of those roles that she gave the nod to as soon as Kabir offered her the film. She adds, “I am so glad that Kabir came to me with it. This happened a couple of months ago, when he was still casting the boys for the film. It’s just that I was busy with Chhappak (her production debut, which wrapped up recently) and we were waiting for the right moment to make the announcement.” In a quick chat with BT, she talks about the ambitious project, how sports have influenced her life and, of course, about teaming up with her real-life partner for the fourth time in her career. Read on…

’83 is your first film with Ranveer post-marriage. Do you think the dynamics between you as actors will change?
When you are in the business of movies, you are playing a character. Of course, all of this is yet to play out, but at the end of the day, you are essaying a role, and at that point, you are not thinking whether your co-actor is your husband, brother or someone you know closely. All you try to do is, be honest in that moment. The personal equation doesn’t spill over into the workspace. I can’t think of anyone else who could do justice to the role (of Kapil Dev), but if there was someone else playing him in the film, and not Ranveer, I would still do my part. This isn’t coming from a personal equation, but from my passion and enthusiasm for the film.

Ranveer has spent a considerable amount of time with Kapil Dev to get into the skin of the character. Do you intend to spend some time with Romi to understand her perspective and role in the legendary all-rounder’s life and career?
There isn’t a lot of material available on her. I have met her a few times, including our wedding reception, and I have interacted with her socially over the years. I am also referring to whatever material the director’s team has sent across to me. My parents have known their family for many years. So, I feel I know her and hope that she is proud and happy with the film. I intend to connect and spend some time with her before I start filming to be able to understand her perspective better.

Will you be sporting Romi’s chic boy-cut hairdo for the part?
Well, you will have to wait and watch!

We have often seen fans blame and troll WAGs when an athlete fails to perform, Anushka Sharma being a case in point when Virat Kohli doesn’t have a great knock. Don’t you think that it is unfair and out of line?
I have been part of state teams when we were not allowed to travel with our parents, and we could only travel with the team. Honestly, I don’t think I am in a place where I can say whether athletes should or shouldn’t travel with their families, or whether they are a distraction or not. At the end of the day, it’s how an individual reacts to that situation. Some athletes play really well with their families around, while for others, it could be a distraction. Maybe, it should be left for the athlete to decide. However, what worries me is the inconsistency. Why should someone (family) not be given the credit if they (athletes) perform well? What about when someone doesn’t play well when their spouse is not around? Similarly, when they play well and create world records, the credit should also be given to the family.

In fact, families play a crucial role in an athlete’s career, don’t they?
Yes, I have seen it from close quarters because of my parents. A support system that a wife or family is to an athlete often goes unnoticed. It was important for me to be a part of this film to highlight the personal journey athletes go through when they are playing and performing at such a high level. The focus is usually on the professional achievements, and we tend to ignore their personal and humane aspects, and the sacrifices an athlete and his/her family have to make to support one person’s dreams and ambitions. I have seen that with my mother (Ujjala Padukone). I don’t think my father could have been half the champion that he was if it wasn’t for my mom. She, along with my grandparents and his siblings, have played an integral role in his success. In fact, I always have the utmost respect for homemakers, as their job is the most selfless. To be the backbone of the family, while others step out to nurture their ambitions, and to be that person who puts others’ needs before their own, is a very selfless thing to do. It was important for me to tell this story to the audience.

Ranveer and you have contrasting personalities, is your approach as actors different? Do you feed off each other’s energy?
Yes, I think so. We have worked in three films together, and they have all been successful. Individually, we are strong and different personalities, and when put together, we know how to feed off each other’s energy and that’s the beauty of it. I think Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela was a classic example of that. It’s exciting and challenging at the same time.

Who is a bigger cricket buff between the two of you?
Let me put it this way, Ranveer is a bigger cricket buff and follows it a lot more, but he has found a good companion in me. We discuss sports. I come from the sporting world, I understand it and have my own opinions. When I saw Ranveer train for the part, I could tell that it is something that he is inherently good at. Maybe, he lost touch because he started playing other sports. A few months of training has really brought him back and made him a good cricketer.

Who are your favourites in the Indian cricket team?
I like Rahul Dravid’s personality and the way he has conducted himself off the field. It’s not just about the way one performs on the field, but also what they stand for and represent. For me, an ideal sportsperson would be a mix of M S Dhoni and Rahul Dravid. For his kind of achievements, it’s amazing to see how simple, humble and grounded Dhoni is. He could have become arrogant and even given up the sport, but instead, he is constantly pushing the envelope. There is so much to learn from him as a person. I think both of them are extremely inspiring and they remind me of the way my father conducted himself.

Besides, co-producing '83, you are also producing Chhappak. Your choice of projects makes it evident that you are keen on backing unconventional subjects.
I will always be true and authentic with my choices. Earlier, it would be my choices just as an actor, today I have an opportunity to extend that scope into production, as well. The films I do, as an actor, producer, or both, are an extension of my personality and who I am.

As an athlete yourself, how has your sports background helped you in your acting career… like being sporting enough to stomach a flop or being patient enough to wait for the right film. Do you think that your experience as a sports person helped you survive in a difficult industry like Bollywood?
Absolutely, I think you just summed it up. There are certain life lessons that I learnt on a playing field that I probably wouldn’t have learnt otherwise. Sports is an integral part of who I am. I wouldn’t have been half the person that I am today, if it wasn’t for my experience as an athlete. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been exposed to sports, not just as a hobby, but in a competitive environment. Dedication, discipline, determination, patience, how to handle success and failure — when you experience it through an athlete’s lens, it’s very different. I have used the lessons I learnt from that time in my life, both, personally and professionally.