Abhay Deol on his next, which is inspired by World Cup win of India’s Under-14 rugby team and features him as coach Rudraksha Jena
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 26, 2019)

On Friday, Abhay Deol posted a picture on Instagram with the caption, “Some mornings be like! Just one of them days ya know?” and appended it with the hashtag #tired and #overworked. Turns out the actor has just wrapped up his next film, Jungle Cry, after a hectic shoot. The real-life story of Rudraksha Jena and the historic win of the Under-14 rugby team of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences’ (KISS) in 2007, was filmed in Wales and London during November and December. Emily Shah, former Miss New Jersey (2014) who assisted on Captain America 2, Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys and Fast & Furious 7, plays a physiotherapist and Abhay’s leading lady.

The actor’s character is modelled on the Indian coach, Rudraksha, and he admits that rugby isn’t a common sport in India. “What makes the win even more impressive is that these kids were football players who had just four months to learn rugby and still managed to lift the World Cup in the UK. This is an underdog story of success and that’s what made it attractive to me,” he says.

Abhay admits that while he was familiar with rugby, he didn’t follow the sport closely and underwent training for months before the film went on the floors. He is quick to add that his trials were nothing compared to what the kids went through. “While shooting in rainy Wales in five degrees temperature, I could wear my jacket over my tracks and root them on, screaming, ‘Come on boys, run and jump,’ while they were shivering in their shorts,” he reminisces. “But be it Emily or Sagar Ballary (director), everyone was heart-warmingly earnest because we were all inspired by the story. This is a story we all wanted the world to know.”

Quiz him on his encounter with his real-life counterpart and Abhay says he was really motivated by the work Rudraksha has been doing. “We also have British footballer Paul Walsh and Dr Achyuta Samanta, who runs KISS, on board. All these guys live to better the lives of others. Paul has his own outfit in Kolkata that trains street kids who rarely get an opportunity to showcase their talent. Sports is an opportunity that comes out of poverty in many parts of the world and I respect these guys for creating a future for these boys,” Abhay asserts.

Associate producer Shabbir Boxwala informs that the film is currently in post-production. “We plan to enter it for the Cannes Film Festival in March,” he informs.

While Abhay Deol-starrer has completed its Orissa schedule and is now headed to Wales, a second film, by Ujjwal Chatterjee, is gearing up to roll by the month-end in London
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 15, 2018)

Abhay Deol’s next, Jungle Cry, a film based on the historic win of the Under-14 rugby team of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences’ (KISS) has gone on the floors. After a month-long schedule in Orissa, the unit will head to Wales on November 19 for another month-long schedule. The film traces the journey of these tribal boys who stunned the world to win the International School Rugby Tournament in London. Abhay plays the coach of the boys, Rudraksha Jena. The lead actress is yet to be finalised.

Associate producer Shabbir Boxwala (right) told Mirror, “We plan to wrap up the film by December-end. With Prashant Shah coming on board as producer, it’s an international project now and is being shot on a lavish scale. We have roped in Robert Miller who was the sports coordinator on films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Student of the Year among others. Paul Walsh who trained the original rugby team is a consultant on our films and is training our kids from our film.”

Interestingly, another film, this one titled Jungle Crows, on the same subject is also set to roll soon. This one is being helmed by National Award-winning director Ujjwal Chatterjee (left). “We will be starting our shoot in London after November 27 since I have a prior commitment to wrap up first. The recce in London, Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar was completed last month. Our cast will be finalised in the next few days.”

When informed about the rival production, Shabbir retorted, “We have acquired the rights from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences before we set out to make this film. Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KISS, has blessed our project.”