Sushant Singh Rajput to Ranveer Singh: Bollywood actors who played cricketers in films

Cricket and our entertainment industry have a long-standing relationship. Bollywood filmmakers are in awe of the sport, they have depicted their favourite sportsperson and even captured historic moments in films. Actors often had to undergo strict training to step into the shoes of a cricketer. Speaking of which, here’s a list of some Bollywood actors who have often essayed the role of cricketers in the films and nailed it!

Bollywood actors who played cricketers in films:

1. Shahid Kapoor

Shahid Kapoor essayed the role of a cricketer in Jersey. It is about a former cricketer who returns to the game for his son’s wish of a jersey, alongside Mrunal Thakur and Pankaj Kapoor. The film is also the remake of his 2019 Telugu film of the same title. The film was set to release in the cinema on 31 December 2021, but got indefinitely postponed due to the Omicron variant spread.

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2. Sushant Singh Rajput

Late Sushant Singh Rajput essayed the lead role in the popular biopic, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. It is based on the life of former Test, ODI and T20I captain of the Indian national cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The film also starred Disha Patani, Kiara Advani, and Anupam Kher. The film chronicles the life of Dhoni from a young age through a series of life events.

 

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3. Ranveer Singh

Ranveer Singh was recently seen in the sports drama 83. Based on the India national cricket team led by Kapil Dev, which won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Singh fit into the shoes of the iconic cricketer Kapil Dev in the film. It was one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2021.

 

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4. Emraan Hashmi

Emraan essayed the role of Azhar. The story is inspired from the life of Indian cricketer and former national team captain Mohammad Azharuddin. He also had to undergo physical transformation look his part as the former Indian cricketer. The film was released worldwide on 13 May 2016.

 

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5. Shreyas Talpade

In Iqbal, Shreyas Talpade played the role of a deaf-and-mute aspiring cricketer. He bowled the masses over with his performance. The story follows a cricket-obsessed deaf and mute boy from a remote Indian village as he aims to overcomes difficulties to become a cricketer and fulfill his dream of playing for the Indian national cricket team.

 

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6. Akshay Kumar

The story revolves around Parghat Singh Kahlon alias Gattu / Kaali (Akshay Kumar), who is living the life his father Gurtej Singh Kahlon (Rishi Kapoor) chose for him. Gattu had been good at cricket and wanted to play for England though Gurtej would never let him become a member of the England team. Akshay’s role of a fast bowler is loosely based on Monty Panesar.

 

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7. Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan played the iconic character called Bhuvan in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s cult film, Lagaan (2001) It is a story about the resilience shown by the Indians when they were under the British Rule. The film received widespread critical acclaim and awards at international film festivals, as well as many Indian film awards.

 

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