10 cricketers who have appeared in Indian movies

For all Indians, if there are two professions that are celebrated like no other, they have to be cricket and movies. Cricketers and movie stars have the highest star status and they are both put on the same pedestal by the people. They are also the best paid professionals in the country.So it is only natural that these two professions would come together on occasion. There have been quite a few cricketers who have acted in Indian movies, and here are a few of them.

#1 Sunil Gavaskar

The Little Master Sunil Gavaskar had been a star in multiple matches for India, and he took that over to celluloid as well. He first starred in a Marathi movie while he was still playing for India. The movie was ‘Savli Premachi’ and came out in 1980.

He also had a guest role in the 1988 movie ‘Malaamaal’, a film featuring Naseeruddin Shah in which Gavaskar played himself in a cricket match. Gavaskar also sang a Marathi song, “Ya Duniyemadhye Thambayaala Vel Konala”, which became quite popular and which depicted the similarities between a cricket match and life.

#2 Ajay Jadeja

Ajay Jadeja was one of the mainstays in the Indian team in the 1990s and he even captained the ODI team a number of times. However, the match-fixing scandal put an end to his career earlier than he might have planned.

Therefore, he tried his hand in Bollywood and even landed a leading role in the 2003 movie ‘Khel’. But it bombed so badly at the box office that he decided to stay away from mives completely, and has since then stuck to commentary and analysis of cricket games.

#3 Vinod Kambli

Along with Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli was one of the best talents coming out of Mumbai in the 1990s. However, he lacked the discipline Tendulkar had for the sport and, as a result, had a completely different career path to the Master Blaster.

After his career effectively ended in 2000, he tried his hand in movies, starring in the movie ‘Aanarth’ alongside Sunil Shetty. But it didn’t do well at the box office, bringing that avenue to a dead end too.

#4 Kapil Dev

Another great Indian superstar from the 80s was the Haryana Hurricane, Kapil Dev. He had a huge amount of success as a pace bowler for India, at a time when the country was known more for its spinners. He even led the country to its first World Cup win, in 1983.

Kapil Dev has played bit-part roles in quite a few movies, though in every one of them he played himself rather than any other fictional character. He appeared in movies like ‘Iqbal’, ‘Mujhse Shadi Karogii’, ‘Stumped’, etc.

#5 Syed Kirmani

Before there was MS Dhoni, there was Syed Kirmani. He was one of India’s most accomplished wicket-keepers, setting quite a few records. He was adjudged the best wicketkeeper of the 1983 World Cup, which India had won, and was also the partner of Kapil Dev during that epic innings of 175 against Zimbabwe.

Kirmani acted in one movie, and he played a significant role in it too. It was the 1985 movie ‘Kabhi Ajnabi The’, and he played the villain. Interestingly, the hero was another popular cricketer as well, whose identity will be revealed in the next slide.

Kirmani appeared in another movie as himself in a cameo role. It was in the 2012 Malyalam movie ‘Mazhavillinattam Vare’.

#6 Sandeep Patil

The actor that played the hero opposite Syed Kirmani’s villain in ‘Kabhi Ajnabi The’ was Sandeep Patil, and that was his only movie. Back then, it was an experiment made by the filmmaker to see if two cricketers could make a hit movie.

Unfortunately it did not work, and the movie was a disaster at the box office. Patil did not act in any other movie apart from this.

#7 Mohsin Khan

Mohsin Khan was one of Pakistan’s big finds as a cricketer. He was touted to become a great opening batsman. However, he did not realise his full playing potential as player or coach, and rather took to showbiz.

Mohsin Khan has acted in multiple films, such as ‘Ghunghat’, ‘Saathi’, ‘Batwaara’, etc.

#8 Salil Ankola

Salil Ankola may not have had the greatest careers as an Indian international cricketer, but he did make his Test debut in the same match that Sachin Tendulkar did, and that will always stay with him. He also played in a few ODIs, but he never really cemented a place in the team.

However, he had a better career in tinsel town, having acted in a TV show called ‘Chahat aur Nafrat’. He acted in movies like ‘Churaliya hai Tumne’ and ‘Kurukshetra’, as well as the popular serial ‘Sssh..koi hai’.

#9 Salim Durani

Salim Durani was a great cricketer who played for India and was best known for hitting sixes on the request of the crowd. He was good with the ball too. Durani also was the first cricketer to win the Arjuna Award.

Durani acted in one movie ‘Charitra’ opposite Parveen Babi.

#10 Yograj Singh

Yograj Singh’s claim to fame would be more for being Yuvraj Singh’s father rather than the short career he had playing for India. He played in 1 Test and 6 ODIs.

He has had quite the career in movies though, starring in as many as 30 Punjabi films and 10 Hindi movies. His latest movie was playing coach to Milkha Singh in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’.