Posted:
RANVEER SINGH'S '83, SHRADDHA KAPOOR'S SAINA NEHWAL BIOPIC: BOLLYWOOD IS PLAYING THE FIELD WITH SPORTS DRAMAS
By Himesh Mankad, Mumbai Mirror | Updated: Feb 19, 2019, 09.37 AM IST
Ever since the 2013 Farhan Akhtar-starrer Bhaag Milkha Bhaag made all the right noises at the box office, Bollywood has been playing the field with sports dramas, from Mary Kom and MS Dhoni: The Untold Story to Dangal and Gold to name a few. Over the years, this has become a sought-out genre for filmmakers and the number of films in the pipeline speaks volumes for its impressive strike rate. A look:
World champs of '83
Director: Kabir Khan
Kabir's first shot at a sports-drama highlights one of the most historic sporting achievements of India. In 1983, the year from which the film borrows its title, the Indian team pulled off an incredible win against the then-defending champions, the West Indies, at Lord's to lift the World Cup. Ranveer Singh as Captain Kapil Dev leads an ensemble cast, including Jeeva (Krishnamachari Srikanth), Saqib Saleem (Mohinder Amarnath), Harrdy Sandhu (Madan Lal), Chirag Patil (Sandeep Patil), Sahil Khatter (Syed Kirmani) and Ammy Wirk (Balvinder Sandhu). Pankaj Tripathi steps in as coach Man Singh.
The film rolls in May and opens on April 10, 2020.
Hitting bullseye
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Tushar's directorial debut narrates the story of the world's oldest sharpshooters, 87-year-old Chandro and her sister-in-law, Prakashi Tomar, 82, with Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar playing them. The duo from Uttar Pradesh, also known as Revolver Dadis', started out in their mid-50s, and have since won over 100 medals in the veteran category across championships in the North zone and at the pre-nationals. With the film's team shooting around their houses, the two ladies have been a regular fixture on set.
John takes the field in 1911
Director: Nikkhil Advani
After Goal (2007), John Abraham revives his screen tryst with football by joining hands with Bhushan Kumar and Nikkhil Advani for the story of India's premiere football club, Mohan Bagan, in the 1911 Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield campaign. It kicked off on July 10 and ended on July 29 with an incredible victory over East Yorkshire Regiment, an elite branch of the British army. John plays Captain Shibdas Bhaduri in the film which kicks off in November and will be shot in Kolkata over three months, targeting a 2020 release.
Abhinav Bindra's gold quest
Director: Kanan Iyer
Based on the life of Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, this one has father-son duo of Anil and Harshvardhan Kapoor as Abhinav and Apjit Bindra. Harsh has been training in air rifle shooting since September 2018 for the yet-untitled biopic, which will focus on how Abhinav's life changed in two decadesfrom age 15 to 35. The film releases in the last quarter of the year.
In the ring with Dingko Singh
Director: Raja Krishna Menon
After Airlift and Chef, Raja Krishna Menon jumps into a biopic on boxing hero Dingko Singh with Shahid Kapoor as the champ who was hailed as one of the most outstanding boxers India has ever produced. Presently being scripted, the film will also shed light on the boxer's battle with cancer. The makers intend to take it on the floors around April this year.
Panga with Kangana
Director: Ashwini Iyer Tiwari
Kangana Ranaut will soon be seen as a national-level kabbadi player in Panga, which is helmed by Bareilly Ki Barfi fame Ashwini Iyer Tiwari. The film, a fictional tale, follows the story of a family that challenges stereotypes and dares to dream and features Punjabi singer Jassie Gill as Kangana's husband. Shooting of this Fox Star production kicked off last year. The team is aiming to hit theatres by the year-end.
Unsung hero Murlikant
Director: Prashant Singh
Currently on hold due to scripting issues, the Murlikant Petkar biopic, Murli: The Unsung Hero, has Sushant Singh Rajput as the lead. It's about an army officer-turned-sportsperson, who won the gold at the Commonwealth Games (1970) and the Paralympics (1972). He also set a world record in swimming in 1972.
Sania slams it
Ronnie Screwvala has acquired the rights to the biopic of tennis ace Sania Mirza, a former No. 1 in doubles, who has won six Grand Slam titles. The contract was recently signed and it's a work in progress.
Bend it like Bhutia
Filmmaker Anand Kumar is working on football captain Bhaichung Bhutia's biopic. The Sikkimese striker became the captain in 1998 and has played for India for 16 years.
Cricketing factor
Director: Abhishek Sharma
Based on Anuja Chauhan's 2008 novel of the same name, this one is a fictional story of a client service rep who ends up as the lucky mascot of the Indian cricket team during the 2011 World Cup. Dulquer Salmaan plays Nikhil Khoda, a character modeled on MS Dhoni, Sonam Kapoor is Zoya. Shooting has wrapped up and the film will release on April 5.
Learning soccer from Big B
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Nagraj Manjule's Hindi directorial debut, Jhund, is based on the life of Vijay Barse, the founder of slum soccer. It has Amitabh Bachchan playing a retired sports teacher who weans street kids off a life of crime and drugs and redirects their talent to build a soccer team. A major chunk of the film is set in Nagpur, and the team recently wrapped up a 45-day schedule in the city. The movie is produced by Bhushan Kumar and is slated to release this year.
Courtside with Saina Nehwal
Director: Amole Gupte
The biopic of Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal features Shraddha Kapoor in the titular role. The film will showcase the journey of the badminton ace as a Hyderabad girl who took up the sport to fulfill her mother's dream of becoming a national level player and became World No 1. The film is slated for an early 2020 unveiling.
Batting with Mithali Raj
Viacom18 Motion Pictures has acquired the rights to the biopic of Mithali Raj, captain of the Indian women's cricket team who made her debut at the age of 16 and soon after hit a century against Ireland, becoming the youngest woman cricketer to do so. She is often described as the Sachin Tendulkar of Women's Cricket and is first woman to score 6000 ODI runs. Taapsee Pannu has expressed a desire to play her on screen.
Shuttling to the top with Gopi
Director: Praveen Sattaru
Actor Sudheer Babu, who made his Hindi film debut as a baddie in Tiger Shroff's Baaghi, will play badminton coach, Pullela Gopichand who has mentored Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, among others. The 39-year-old has already started training in the sport and the bilingual is expected to take off soon. Aditi Rao Hydari is reportedly signed on for the female lead.
Hindi TV Shows
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
6