Cricketer Yuvraj Singh plans to ‘go out all guns blazing’ while talking about his life on the big screen
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 15, 2020)

A glorious over two-decade-long cricketing career, countless records and milestones, romantic link-ups, battle with cancer, philanthropy work and more — Yuvraj Singh’s life has all the ingredients needed for a commercial potboiler. And not disappointing his fans, the cricketer confirms to us in an exclusive interview that a biopic on his life is “already in the process”. He adds that the work on it has picked up since his retirement (from international cricket) in June last year. While fans definitely are waiting to see his journey on the big screen, Singh says it’ll take some more time because “after all, it’s not easy to talk about your life”. Here’s the 38-year-old, spilling the beans about the aspects his biopic will cover, and who he wants to see portray him on the celluloid.

There’s been a lot of talk about your biopic. What’s the status?
I’m much honoured that a lot of big production houses have approached me (to make a film), but I’ve not thought about when it’s going to come out, or who we’re going to do it with. We’re in talks with a few people, but nothing concrete has come out yet. The thing is that it’s a very emotional journey what I’ve gone through — my relationship with my dad (Yograj Singh), my cancer and all. So, I’m trying to put pen to paper, and finding it really hard to do it.

What is the most difficult part?
You know, sometimes, I look at my life and I’m like, ‘Hmmm, it’s a pretty interesting story’. So, I want to be 100% content with myself that, ‘Okay, now I’m ready to talk about my life’. After all, it’s not easy to talk about your life, especially when there are certain grey areas where you’re like, ‘Ah, I’m not very sure’. Hopefully, I’ll get the right direction.

Any actor you’re keen on seeing play your role in the biopic?
Probably, I’d play myself — that would be a bit desperate… (chuckles) hai na? See, that’s the director’s job to decide. If it’s going to be a Bollywood film, then Siddhant Chaturvedi — the guy who played M C Sher in Gully Boy (2019) — is a good option; I’d love to see him in the film. Then, I think Ayushmann (Khurrana) would also be a good fit. He’d just need to bulk up a little bit; thoda bahut khaana khake aana padega (laughs). There’s Ranveer (Singh) and Ranbir (Kapoor), too. And if it goes international, you have Jon Snow (Kit Harington) from Game Of Thrones (smiles). So, let’s see what direction the film goes.

Your mother, Shabnam Singh, has played a very crucial role in your journey. Any name suggestions for her part?
(Long pause) Kirron Kher ji would do a great job, I feel. As she has joined politics, I’m not sure if she’d do a film now. It all depends...

Are there any specific aspects of your life that you definitely want to show in your biopic?
I don’t know what the director and producer are going to portray, but I’m going to pretty much say everything about my life. The book that I’ve written (The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back) was more about cancer and the ICC World Cup (2011) win — that’s just 25% of my journey. My real journey is how I started playing, my bond with my father, how he was not a successful player and left playing very early. So, it’s full of ups and downs. I always wanted my journey to be stable, but it never was.

And anything that you don’t want to be told on the big screen?
Trust me, if I go out, I always go out all guns blazing. I don’t shy away from owning up. In my life, I’ve always believed that everyone’s not going to like, or dislike you. You’re going to live your life how you feel, how your heart tells you to. That’s how I’ve always lived my life. I must have made few mistakes in cricket, definitely, but when it comes to living my life, I have no regrets at all.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 31, 2016)

When Akanksha Sharma entered the Bigg Boss house, none had an inkling that she was sister-in-law to cricketer Yuvraj Singh. She let it slip during a conversation with co-contestant Gaurav Chopra and almost instantly created ripples. Akanksha accused mom-in-law Shabnam Singh of mental torture following which estranged hubby Zorawar countered all her allegations. With Akanksha out of the house now, she bares all in no-holds-barred conversation with hitlist. Excerpts:

You revealed about your short-lived marriage to Yuvraj Singh’s brother Zorawar while in the house. What exactly went wrong?
My mother and Shabnam Singh were best friends and they decided to marry us off. I was okay with an arranged match. The wedding was solemnised within a week since their ‘babaji’ advised so. So, there was no courtship where I could get to know him. I know Zorawar wasn’t confident person, but later I realised, that was not the only issue; he had been overshadowed all his life. When one child in the house gets all the attention, the other one is bound to feel left out, right? We didn’t have a physical or emotional connect. I was married to two people — Zorawar and his mother. She wanted me to stay in the kitchen all day.

Why didn’t she allow you to work?
No clue. We had four cooks, but still, I was expected to cook. I was not allowed to go out, shop or even drive the car. She followed me everywhere, including on our honeymoon.

Zorawar has claimed you refused to have a physical relationship.
Just because you are married, you don’t have to have sex immediately. You have to build a comfort level first. But, I was forced into it. She kept saying that if I want financial freedom, I will have to have sex. I’d rather become a prostitute, right? Maybe, she wanted to tie me down by getting me impregnated.

What happened after you moved to Gurgaon?
My mother-in-law accompanied us there as well. There was no escaping her.

Zorawar said you kept late nights without informing anyone…
I never went alone anywhere; my husband was always there with me. If you meet him, you will know he doesn’t have an opinion of his own. He is his mother’s puppet. When we went out, she would drop us or send her PA. She’d even go through my cupboard and had the servants spy on me.

He also accused you of substance abuse.
I won’t deny that. I did smoke pot with my husband and his cousin. But, they are saying all this now to defame me.

Were you ever physically or sexually abused?
Not really. Yes, my mother-in-law slapped me once, but not too hard. I was mentally tortured every day. And no, Zorawar never forced himself on me. He is a kind person.

In the case filed against you, it is mentioned that you’d often come home drunk, have alcohol bottles in your room.
When someone is tortured, they would resort to drinking. I never went home carrying a bottle; I know my limits. I never drank alone. Zorawar would often say ‘let’s drink’ and I’d agree.

Did you try to extort money from them by threatening suicide?
I’m a fighter, why will I try to kill myself? I took money from my parents even after marriage. My family kept telling me to give it some more time. Without their support, I thought of running away— even stay on the streets than be tortured every day.

What did Zoravar do for a living?
He does nothing. The entire family survives on Yuvi’s money.


Zorawar Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Akansha Sharma

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 14, 2015)

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 2, 2014)

The love affair between cricket and Bollywood is probably as old as the respective vocations, but there’s always something new brewing between the cricket lawns and the movie studios.

Now, Mirror has learnt that after enjoying his singleton status for quite some time now, cricket’s favourite poster boy, Yuvraj Singh, has found love again in the glamorous lanes of Bollywood. Lately, he has been spotted with Leepakshi Ellawadi, a fashion designer who has put together the costume of films like Youngistaan and Ek Villain.

Revealed a common friend, “Whenever Yuvi is in town, he makes it a point to meet up with Leepakshi. He really enjoys her company. Whether it’s a crazy night out at a club or a sober luncheon, the two are inseparable. It’s time they took the relationship forward.”

Leepakshi has worked as a stylist on a couple of IPL events, and apparently that is where the two met. “They instantly hit it off and now, it’s almost been three years since they have known each other. She was also by his side when he was ill,” the friend added.

Leepakshi gets along with Yuvi’s mum Shabnam as well.

When contacted, Leepakshi was reluctant to speak about the cricketer. “Yuvraj is a great person and we hang out together. But I am not going to comment on this any further.”

In the past, Yuvraj was in a relationship with Bollywood actress Kim Sharma, but the two eventually went their separate ways and Kim later married Kenya-based businessman, Ali Punjani. The cricketer was also linked to actress Deepika Padukone and a South African athlete Grace. However, he never made these relationships public.