Kabir Khan Reveals Everyone's Reaction: "Getting Kapil Dev on the ground after 36 years was like a Cherry on Top"

Kabir Khan directorial '83 is definitely the most anticipated film of 2020 which will show the iconic win of the Indian cricket team at the 1983 world cup against West Indies. 

The director has recreated Kapil Dev's iconic knock during the 1983 World Cup at the original stadium and how it spurred a tribute.

The team recreated Kapil Dev’s match-winning innings of 175 runs against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells which is hailed as one of the greatest ODI knocks of all time by several cricketing experts.

Kabir Khan reveals that the local team was excited to learn that the innings was being revisited at the original location. Getting Kapil Dev on the ground after 36 years was like a cherry on top.

“It was history in the making all over again because the entire town and county got so excited. At the end of the day, Kapil sir’s innings put Tunbridge Wells on the map of the cricketing world. It’s a beautiful ground, but not many big matches happen there. It’s destiny that the man who created a world record there got back to the ground after 36 years,” Kabir beams, adding, “For them, it was like the return of their hero.”  

Interestingly, there is no visual evidence of the historic innings as the telecast partner of the cricket world cup was on strike on the day of the match, a crucial one for India to qualify for the next round. During the shoot, ground officials surprised the team of the sports-drama by paying tribute to the cricketing legend. Now, an engraved plaque celebrating Kapil’s record-breaking knock hangs on the walls of the pavilion.

While Kabir Khan and the crew of the Sajid Nadiadwala, Madhu Mantena, Shibasish Sarkar and Vishnu Induri production invited Kapil Dev to witness the shoot, the former Indian Skipper wasn’t aware of the planned tribute. 

“We requested him to come on the set, but the plaque was a pleasant surprise for him,” Kabir Khan shares, adding that a video capturing the moment will be unveiled by the team on Kapil’s birthday on January 6.

Two of Kapil’s teammates, Balwinder Singh Sandhu (who has also coached Kabir’s reel-life team which is led by Ranveer Singh) and Mohinder Amarnath were also present on the occasion to cheer their Captain on.

Ranveer Singh playing the iconic Kapil Dev, to Tahir Raj Bhasin as Sunil Gavaskar, Saqib Saleem as Mohinder Amarnath, Chirag Patil as Sandeep Patil, While Deepika Padukone Will be seen in a cameo avatar playing Romi, Kapil Dev's Wife. 83 has a huge ensemble cast. 

Touted to be the biggest sports film of all time, ‘83 is being co-produced by Madhu Mantena, Sajid Nadiadwala and Reliance Entertainment. The movie is slated to hit the screens on 10 April 2020.