Shahid Kapoor Breaks Silence over Comparisons between Jersey and Ranveer Singh's '83

Shahid Kapoor is prepping for his upcoming sports drama titled Jersey, the Hindi remake of the Telugu sports drama of the same name.  After playing an alcoholic surgeon with anger issues in Kabir Singh, the remake of Vijay Deverakonda's Arjun Reddy, Shahid is set to play a cricketer in the Hindi version of Jersey.

Speaking of playing a cricketer on-screen, Ranveer Singh is all set for Kabir Khan’s sports biopic, ‘83. Based on the life of veteran cricketer Kapil Dev and India’s World Cup win, the film also stars Deepika Padukone as Romi Dev.

With both the actors Ranveer and Shahid playing cricketers in ‘83 and Jersey, respectively, comparisons have started to surface between them online. Reacting to such comparisons, Shahid says that ‘both films must have their own individual identity.’

83 is a wonderful subject and I wish them all the best. It’s about India triumphing at the ‘83 World Cup and I think everybody wants to watch it. Jersey’ is a personal film. It’s a human journey and it touched me deeply. It’s a very emotional film. I am guessing both films must have their own individual identity. I am definitely looking forward to seeing ‘83.

- Shahid told the media at the Global Spa Fit N Fab Awards, held on Wednesday.

At the awards function, Shahid talks about getting his character as a cricketer in Jersey right. He says, “I used to think I am a good cricketer because I used to open at school. I forgot the fact that there has been a long gap where I have not played cricket. It’s fun to play cricket just like that, but when you are playing (the role of) a cricketer you need to get the technique right and dedicate a lot of time to it. I am trying to give as much time I can.”

Directed by Gowtam Tinnanauri, who also helmed the 2019 original film, starring Nani in the lead, the Hindi remake of Jersey will hit the theatres on August 28, 2020. Shahid is leaving no stone unturned in prepping hard for his character as he states, “I think we are in a time where authenticity is important. I don’t think that as an actor you can get away without being convincing about playing a sportsperson. I am trying to get as close as I can. I am padded up, I am practicing every day with season ball, with all the gears.”

Ranveer Singh’s ‘83 or Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey, which film are you looking forward to? Share with us in the comments...