Abhishek Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; December 7, 2018)

Mohun Bagan’s victory over East Yorkshire Regiment in the 1911 IFA Shield final is one of the biggest milestones in the history of the club and also in Indian football.

A movie about the historic incident — Egaro (left; below) — was also made in 2011 and the former and current players of the green and maroons and also the supporters of the club are excited that a Bollywood movie has now been conceived about the event with John Abraham playing the role of Shibdas Bhaduri.

“The incident will be even better publicised to the entire nation, which will further enhance the prestige of Mohun Bagan. The younger generation will get to know about the performance of the Bagan team in 1911,” said Mohun Bagan and Indian football legend Chuni Goswami (left).

Satyajit Chatterjee, who played for Mohun Bagan for a decade before coaching the team and is now a club official, feels such a movie at the national level was overdue. “It should have been made before. This is a national level initiative and I thank John and others for this. It will not only highlight a great history of Mohun Bagan but also reflect the importance Indian football used to hold. I feel it is a very relevant movie which will inspire many youngsters,” he said.

Defender Pritam Kotal, who represented Mohun Bagan for four seasons, feels proud after he heard that a Bollywood movie is being made about the Kolkata club. “I had seen Egaro. I feel proud that I was player at a club about which a movie is being made in Bollywood,” he gushed.

Equally excited on hearing about the news of the movie is a descendant of Shibdas Bhaduri. “I am delighted to know about it. The fact that a Bollywood movie will depict the 1911 match and Shibdas Bhaduri makes me emotional. I am definitely looking forward to watching the movie,” said Gouri Bhaduri, granddaughter-in-law of Shibdas Bhaduri.

Apart from being a landmark victory for Mohun Bagan, it also played a role in the country’s freedom struggle. Somnath Sengupta — a Mohun Bagan fan working in Pune right now — hopes that movie encompasses that aspect well. “It is really good that a movie is being made on the incident which will reach the national audience. I also hope the movie upholds the real significance that the incident entailed,” Sengupta opined.

Rachana Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 25, 2014)

With his ripped physique and movie star looks, John Abraham is far removed from the wiry, barefoot Shibdas Bhaduri, who led the Mohun Bagan team to victory against their British opponents to lift the IFA Shield in 1911.

The actor-producer is playing the Bengali sporting legend in Shoojit Sircar’s 1911 based on the keenly contested match which saw the Indian side trump their Imperial masters. And John wants to look the part.

A source close to the actor reveals that he has already started exercising towards a footballer’s physique. “A footballer’s strength lies in his legs. John realises that and has already started working out keeping that in mind. In the process, he will lose some weight too and has already started shedding the pounds,” said our source, adding, “He has been gymming for a little over a month, he still has nine months to go. He will pull it off better than anyone can imagine.”

The Immortal XI in the film will also feature Ayushmann Khurrana, who had debuted with John’s home production Vicky Donor in 2012.

Buzz is, Ayushmann will play Abhilash Ghosh, the player who scored the winning goal in the historic match.

When asked, Ayushmann’s spokesperson said, “He has already achieved an extremely fit body for Dum Lagake Haisha and Bombay Fairytale. He looks fitter than ever before. 1911 will only roll towards the end of the year and if need be, closer to the time the film goes on floors, he will work on his body depending on what he’s asked to do.”