Ranveer to Play Kapil Dev - Dir: Kabir Khan (Confirmed by Producer)

The actor is gearing up to retrace the Indian cricket team's steps to their fi rst World Cup victory of 1983

Ranveer Singh has been quietly prepping up for another real-life role. He plays the ace all-rounder, Kapil Dev, who led India to its first Cricket World Cup victory in 1983, in Kabir Khan's sports film which rolls early next year and will be shot in real locations.

Kabir, who has just finished the script, recalls that he'd watched this memorable match as a young schoolboy. "I had no idea then that from that day on cricket in India would change forever. As a filmmaker, the journey to that win, filled with the raw energy and sheer passion of a young Indian team, is probably one of the most exciting stories I have worked on. It's great to have Ranveer come on board as Kapil Dev, as honestly I could see no one else in the role since I started working on the script, says Kabir.

The 1983 Prudential Cup is a celebratory milestone in the history of Indian cricket. The final was between India and West Indies at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London June 25. The Windies playing their third consecutive finals, were the clear favourites. The underdogs batting first were all out for 183 in 54.4 overs with only Mohinder Amarnath (26 runs from 80 balls) and Kris Srikkanth (38 runs from 57 balls) putting up any kind of resistance against the world's best attack of Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Larry Gomes. However, India pulled off a stunning upset by bowling out the best batting line-up for 140 runs from 52 overs with Kapil running around 20 yards to take a magnificent catch to dismiss Viv Richards, the top scorer with 33 runs from 28 balls. Amarnath was the Man of the Match' for not only his gritty batting display but the three wickets he took for just 12 runs in the seven overs he bowled.

Vishnu Vardhan Induri who is co-producing this incredible journey of Team India is excited to have both Kabir and Ranveer on board. "With his energy and passion, we feel that Ranveer is a perfect fit to play Kapil Dev, one of the greatest sporting legends India has ever produced, he exults. Vikramaditya Motwane of Phantom Films seconds him saying it's not easy taking on the mantle of Kapil Dev. "If any actor can do it, it's Ranveer, he asserts.

This is the first time Ranveer will play a sports personality. He will be backed by a powerful supporting cast for which casting is currently in progress