Jersey, Maidaan, Rashmi Rocket And Liger: Bollywood’s Tryst With Sports Films Continues Amid, And Beyond, The Olympic Fever
The Tokyo Olympics 2020 gala is about to end, but India, looks like, will continue with the vibe for a long time. Let’s take a look at how Bollywood’s tryst with sports films is continuing with the movies to be released in the near future.
With the success of last month’s release, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan featuring Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal in the lead, it became evident that a sports film will always strike a chord with the audience. Farhan experienced even bigger success eight years ago with Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Apart from these films, Aamir Khan’s Dangal, Salman Khan’s Sultan and Shah Rukh Khan’s Chak De! India also subscribe to the fact that sports films are more or less a recipe for success. To add to that, the country is currently reeling high under the Indian participation in the Tokyo Olympics, especially the achievements of the Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams and the medal winners from India - PV Sindhu, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Lovlina Borgohain. And it seems like the sports fever is here to stay in Bollywood as we have almost more than half a dozen sports films waiting to be released. Let’s have a look:
Maidaan
This upcoming sport biographical drama, fronted by Ajay Devgn, tells the story of the golden era of India football between 1952-1962 and features Ajay as the football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. The film also stars Priyamani and Gajraj Rao and is aiming for an October 15, 2021 release for now.
Jersey
After tasting humongous success with Kabir Singh, the Hindi remake of the Telugu drama Arjun Reddy, Shahid Kapoor has another Telugu remake in the pipeline - with Jersey. The film sees him as a middle-aged cricketer who tries to return to the game for his son's sake. The film also features Shahid’s father Pankaj Kapur and Mrunal Thakur.
Liger
This Puri Jagannadh-directed pan-Indian film marks the Hindi film debut of Arjun Reddy actor Vijay Deverakonda opposite Ananya Panday, who is also making her South debut with the film. The film is centred on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts for which Vijay has trained rigorously, and it is aiming for a September 9 release this year for now.
Rashmi Rocket
Taapsee Pannu is all set to sprint across the country on the big screen as an athlete from Kutch in Akarsh Khurana’s Rashmi Rocket. The movie pairs her with Priyanshu Painyuli. The shoot of the film has already been completed but the release date is yet to be announced.
Shabaash Mithu
Taapsee is the only actress here to have two back-to-back sports dramas in her kitty as after playing an athlete in Rashmi Rocket, she will bring to life the character of the celebrated Indian cricketer Mithali Raj on screen in her biopic Shabaash Mithu. The film recently underwent a change in the director but Taapsee has been at it with her prep for the film which she has shared with her fans on social media constantly.
Jhulan Goswami’s biopic
Before she got pregnant and had a child, Anushka Sharma was all set to bring to screen the biopic of another celebrated female Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami, but with Anushka embracing motherhood and Covid looming large, there hasn’t been much development on the film since.
Ganapath
As per reports, Ganapath is set in a dystopian future in the year 2090 dealing with the aftermaths of a future world war. This two-part franchise by Vikas Bahl, also featuring Kriti Sanon, will see Tiger in the role of a boxer.
Sharan Sharma’s Next
Recently, it was reported that Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor will reunite after Roohi for Sharan Sharma’s next, which is set against the backdrop of cricket. Kartik Aaryan was earlier supposed to do this film - before the alleged rift between him and Dharma Productions.
Image Source: Instagram/ajaydevgn/shahidkapoor/thedeverakonda/taapsee/bcci.women/janhvikapoor/tigerjackieshroff
Image Source: Instagram/ajaydevgn/shahidkapoor/thedeverakonda/taapsee/bcci.women/janhvikapoor/tigerjackieshroff