It's confirmed. Shraddha Kapoor is all set to grab the badminton racket and step on the court to play India's pride and World No 1 Badminton Champion Saina Nehwal in the Bollywood movie based on her life. This will be Kapoor's second biopic, the first being the soon to be released HASEENA: THE QUEEN OF MUMBAI, where she essays the role of Underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in the titular role in the film. Both Shradhha and Saina have expressed their happiness on the development and hindi film fans can't be more than happy. Firstly, the recently revealed first look images of Shradhha as Haseen Parker in her young and old days have made that film a hot cake in Bolly bazar. The transformation has piqued everyone's interest in the young actress's dedication in playing such a strong role. And secondly, Saina Nehwal is one of India's best known female sportspersons which an enviable career graph that has not just the heights but also the lows to give her biographical movie the required Hindi movie edge.
The SAINA NEHWAL biopic will be directed by Amole Gupte, who was the creative director of Taare Zameen Par and produced by Bhushan Kumar (T-Series).
Last year's MS DHONI: THE UNTOLD STORY, starring Sushant Singh Rajput, became an instant blockbuster among the masses and the critics. The movie was not the first biopic on a sports personality, but indeed paved way for Film Producers to invest big bucks as India as nation is definitely in no shortage of Amazing Underdog stories from the Sports field.
We already have SACHIN: A BILLION DREAMS all set for release on May 26, 2017 but this one is a docu-drama and not exactly a biopic on Bharat Ratna and Cricket Legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Keeping with the announcement of SAINA NEHWAL movie, here's a look at Top 5 Indian Sports Personalities who deserve a Bollywood Biopic.
1) DHYAN CHAND (Hockey)
Dhyan Chand is considered as one the greatest field hockey players of all time. He played a pivotal role in India winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Widely popular as ‘The Wizard’ due to his control on the ball, his goal scoring ability was phenomenal and the opposition defenders were often made to look like sitting ducks in front of this wizard from India. His birthday, 29th August, is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India and the President gives away awards such as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dronacharya awards on this day. Hockey authorities in the Netherlands once broke his hockey stick to check if there was a magnet inside.
With a life story like, it is pretty surprising that none in Bollywood has still attempted a story on this great's life. But all that seems to be fading in past as recent media reports suggest Filmmaker Karan Johar's dream of producing the Dhyan Chand biopic is finally taking shape.
My friends Pooja...Aarti Shetty and I are honoured and proud to have the rights to tell the story of the legendary sportsman #DHYANCHAND...— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) October 7, 2014
Johar had first tweeted in October 2014 about bagging the rights for Dhyan Chand biopic but apparently nothing went through thereafter. Shahrukh Khan was being touted to play the titular role, considering his classic take in the 2007 movie CHAK DE! INDIA. However, names of actors Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor and Siddharth Malhotra are doing rounds now, as SRK may not fit the age group.
The film is said to be directed by Rohit Vaid who recently won a National Film Award for Best Animation Film for his directorial MAHAYODHA RAM.
2) SAURAV GANGULY (Cricket)
Affectionately referred to as Dada (Bengali from 'Elder Brother') by billions of Cricket fans, Saurav Ganguly is to Modern Indian Cricket like LAGAAN is to Modern Indian Cinema. Like a hero of any Bollywood movie, Sourav Ganguly has gone through many turmoils and controversies and has emerged as a winner in the end. He is one of India's biggest superstars and cricket fans swear by his name and the never seen before agression he brought into the game. It's the same agression we see in Virat Kohli today.
That one scene of Ganguly taking off his Indian Jersey at Lords Stadium in Natwest Finals in 2002 can easily be one of the greatest cinematic moments had that not been real and in a hindi movie. But it was real and WHAT A MOMENT.
It's time Bollywood Fans get to see their beloved Dada's story in a Biopic.
3) YUVRAJ SINGH (Cricket)
Yuvraj Singh, who with his 6 sixes in an over in the 2007 T20 World Cup set the stage for the end of India's dry spell from being a World Cup Champion, has a very interesting and inspiring life and his journey in life is worthy to the told to the whole world with a Bollywood Biopic. The Indian crickter’s battle with cancer and his comeback to the playground has inspired many. He has in fact had the best and most talked about comebacks ever.
According to a 2014 report in bollywoodhungama.com, actor Abhishek Bachchan had confessed that he finds Yuvraj Singh's journey to be quite inspiring and worth documenting to the extent thatg he had expressed a desire to play the role of the cricketer. According to then reports, the actor had also met Yuvraj Singh to seek his approval on the project. But no more development seemed to have taken after that.
Last heard in media circles, Ranbir Kapoor had been in talks for a movie on the celebrated sportsperson who is now happily married to Bollywood actress Hazel Keech.
4) SANIA MIRZA (Tennis)
With an International Tennis carrer unlike none in India, a relentless aces filled story to reach heights unheard and unseen before by a female sports athlete in India and a best friend in Filmmaker Farah Khan, Sania Mirza's biopic has all the ingredients to inspire its audience and to be a sureshot blockbuster.
Tennis ace Sania Mirza's career started as an underdog but she never hesitated from the competition and became World No 1 in Women's Double, winning multiple Grand Slams titles. While she continues to win laurels in Tennis, Sania has been repeatedly dragged into controversies, be it over her marriage to Pakistan cricketer, Shoaib Malik, or through court petitions that have questioned her patriotism or her religious beliefs. Yet she stands tall as an inspiration for Girls around the country.
Perfect story for a Masala Entertainer of a Sports Biopic.
Mirza, who at the age of 29 released her autobiography, has been constantly asked by media about her views on a Biopic on her life. And she had once stated that she would love to see actress Parineeti Chopra step into her role if ever a movie is made on her. The two girls are good friends in real life and will be easy to exchange notes, right? Will Farah don the the director's cap for this awesome venture, please?
5) VISHWANATHAN ANAND (Chess)
At the age of 15, Vishwanathan Anand became the youngest Indian chess player to be bestowed with the international master title and became India's first grandmaster in 1988. And the rest, as they say, is history.
From being the first ever recepient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in the country, Anand's life is littered with National and International accolades. His name is synonymous with Chess in the country and with a sport like that, there is an added scope of a thriller and edge-of-the-seat element in the movie based on his life - if only written well.
In 2015, there were talks of a likely collaboration for a biopic with maverick filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Back then, Anand had expressed desire of seeing Aamir Khan in his role if the movies goes through. And going by the perfectionist Aamir Khan's track record, there is no one better than him to create the best script and biopic on his life. And an Aamir Khan-Anurag Kashyap combination for a Biopic on Vishwanathan Anand is nothing short of a masterstroke or better put, CHECK AND MATE!
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