Cricketer turned politician, Kirti Azad, is all set to don an actor’s hat in two back to back Bollywood movies that aim to expose Indian cricket’s dark underbelly. The film will bring to light the woes in Bihar cricket, plus the troubles which the world’s richest cricket board, the BCCI, is plagued with.
The third-term Lok Sabha MP from Darbhanga is currently shooting for the movie titled "Kirket" at multiple locations in his home state. The title of the movie is derived from the colloquial word for the game in Bihar – Kirket.
When asked about how difficult it is to deliver a good performance on the big screen, the former national player said he has no reason to fear the camera. "Since I am enacting the character of myself, it comes naturally and I find no reason to be afraid of facing the camera during shoots."
Azad also revealed that the shooting in Darbhanga would be followed by other locations in India, including Noida and Mumbai.
The movie is produced by Sonu Jha and directed by Joginder Singh. The credit for the script goes to Vishal Vijay Kumar, whose work includes movies like Sunny Deol’s “Ghayal Once Again”. It was revealed that the female lead in the film is to be played by actress Sonam Chabbra.
Kirket is scheduled for a 2017 release.
Cast includes several ex-cricketers
The line up for the guest actor-cricketer role include Bishan Singh Bedi, Manoj Prabhakar, Maninder Singh, Ajay Jadeja and Surendra Khanna, said Azad.
Rumours are afloat that BJP MP from Patna, actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha, will make a special appearance in the movie.
International Umpire S K Bansal has also played a cameo in Kirket.
Azad’s fight for BCCI affiliation to Bihar
Azad, who was a member of India’s 1983 World Cup winning team in England, has been actively involved in an enduring fight for BCCI’s affiliation to Bihar, for the recommencement of cricket-related activities in the state.
After being kept away from the BCCI since the bifurcation of the Bihar state into Jharkhand in 2000, the former has been granted the status of associate member of India’s apex cricketing body recently.
The son of former Bihar Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhagwat Jha Azad, Kirti Azad was born in Bihar but was a professional cricketer for Delhi throughout his career in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments. He later went on to represent the country in One-Day Internationals and Tests.
Azad is a politician with the Bharatiya Janata Party and is a Member of Parliament but has been suspended by his party.
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