The long-awaited biopic on ex-Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, with Rajkummar Rao playing the lead, is finally going on floors in January 2026. The film has been making headlines for a while now, and now both the actor as well as Ganguly himself have announced the schedule. Rajkummar Rao, during a recent interview, revealed that the crew required more preparation time in order to do justice to the life and career of the cricketing great. Rao stated categorically that the prep not only includes the screenplay and direction but also his own personal training, such as learning left-handed batting, a major challenge since Rao is naturally right-handed. He said that he and director Vikramaditya Motwane are going to an extra level of effort to make every detail real, from accent to mannerisms, because this is a story that is emotionally and culturally relevant to millions of people.
Sourav Ganguly, a key participant in developing the film, also confirmed that pre-production is going ahead in full swing and that the film is looking at a release date of December 2026. Talking in an interview earlier, Ganguly disclosed that shooting would take around three months, and afterward, there would be very heavy post-production. Ganguly was also sure about the casting of Rajkummar Rao, calling him “the right person” to essay his life on screen.
Rao himself is making a special effort to get Ganguly’s Bengali accent right, aided by his wife Patralekhaa, who belongs to Bengal. He accepted the challenge of acting out such an iconic personality, underscoring how crucial it is to portray not only Ganguly’s cricketing ability but also his personality, leadership, and cultural heritage. While the remaining cast is yet to be announced officially, it has been reported that various Bengali actors have already been approached for important roles to add authenticity to the project, with shooting to take place in Kolkata and England.
The movie, which picked up momentum following much hype and delay, will follow Ganguly’s path from his early years in Kolkata to his defining captaincy of the Indian cricket team. While some social media fans have complained of exhaustion with the prevalence of biopics in Bollywood, there are those who think Rajkummar Rao’s established ability as an actor and his commitment make him the right person for the part. With rehearsals well under way, this film is set to provide viewers with a meaningful and moving glimpse into one of India’s greatest sporting heroes.
