Banned Indian fast bowler S Sreesanth's Bollywood debut confirmed

Sreesanth performing with his music band before an IPL match in Jaipur last year

Banned for life by the BCCI last year after being found guilty of spot-fixing in the IPL, former Indian cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is all set to make his Bollywood debut. Hailing from Kerala, the 31-year-old has landed the role of a Malayali mentor in a film titled ‘Cabaret’ to be directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi, reports Mumbai Mirror.

The plot of the film revolves around a dancer, and Richa Chadda, who received critical acclaim for her performance in the Gangs of Wasseypur series, will be playing the lead role. The report further claims that Sreesanth has accepted a signing amount of Rs. 5 lakh for the film which will be produced by Pooja Bhatt.

It is also learnt that Pooja accepted the proposal of Sonu Lakhwani, the film’s executive producer, who suggested Sreesanth’s name, after seeing a wedding picture of the controversial cricketer before zeroing in on him for the role. Pooja and Sonu met Sreesanth in his house on November 7, (his birthday), where the producer found Sreesanth’s looks apt for the role.

@sreesanth36 Welcome you on board @CabaretTheFilm Nov 6 was a special day indeed for us all @Supersonex

— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) November 22, 2014

"Sreesanth speaks Hindi with a slight Malayali accent and that's just what I was looking for,” justified Pooja on casting the cricketer.

“Initially, we had thought of casting an elderly actor as Richa's mentor but once I met Sreesanth, the dynamics changed. His look in the film is the same as that in his wedding picture which Sonu showed me. Having Sreesanth in the film is a win-win situation – those who love him will watch the film, those who hate him will also come to see him. He is at a interesting phase in his life," the producer added.