Actor Rajkummar Rao has confirmed that he will be playing former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly in an upcoming biopic, with shooting now scheduled to begin next year. While the film’s title and director are yet to be announced, the actor shared that the delay is due to the extensive preparation required to do justice to the life and legacy of one of India’s most iconic sports figures.

In an interview with Mid-Day, the actor said, “Everybody is taking a lot of care in recreating Dada’s life for a theatrical experience. We have pushed the shooting to next year as we needed some time for the prep. It’s a big responsibility to play one of our most iconic heroes in cricket.”

Rao is undergoing intense training for the role, especially to adapt his style to that of Ganguly, who is a left-handed batsman. “While I know how to play cricket, being a left-handed batter is a different ballgame altogether. The muscle memory is all about being a right-handed batter. So, I need some time to practise. I have deliberately not met Dada yet. I want to meet him when we fully get into prep mode,” he added.

In an earlier interview with NDTV, Rao had confirmed the casting, saying, “Now that Dada has already said it, let me also make it official – yes, I am playing him in his biopic. I am nervous. It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Ganguly, who scored over 18,500 runs and 38 centuries in his international career, gave his nod to the actor’s casting and assured full support. “I think the right person is doing it. I’ll help him with everything,” said the legendary cricketer, who is widely regarded as one of India’s most successful captains.

Meanwhile, Rajkummar Rao is set to begin work on a new dark comedy directed by Aditya Nimbalkar. With the Ganguly biopic still in pre-production, the actor is making room to explore fresh genres before stepping into the shoes of Dada.

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