Cricket and movies are the two biggest religions in India while cricketers and actors revered as gods. There are some who have dabbled in both professions.
So here is a list of cricketers who have featured in movies:
Sunil Gavaskar
Popularly known as the ‘Little Master’, Sunil Gavaskar is an Indian cricketing legend. But not everyone knows that ‘Sunny’ featured in a Marathi film during his playing days. The film was ‘Savli Premachi’ which released 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’.
Ajay Jadeja
Former Indian ODI team captain Ajay Jadeja was one of the mainstays in the Indian team in the 1990s. But a match-fixing scandal put an end to his career.
Therefore, he tried his luck in the Hindi film industry and featured in the 2003 movie ‘Khel’. The film flopped at the box office following which he decided to stick to commentary and analysis of cricket matches.
Vinod Kambli
A good friend of Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli was one of the best talents that the Indian team had in the 1990s. However, he lacked discipline and his career ended in 2000.
He tried his hand in movies, starring in the movie ‘Aanarth’, alongside Sunil Shetty, which failed at the box office, bringing an end to his career in movies.
Kapil Dev
Haryana Hurricane Kapil Dev who led India to its first World Cup in 1983, played small roles in a handful of movies which include ‘Iqbal’, ‘Mujhse Shadi Karogii’, ‘Stumped’, etc.
Syed Kirmani
Before MS Dhoni, there was Syed Kirmani. The former wicketkeeper played a pivotal role in bringing home the 1983 World Cup by sharing a great innings of 175 against Zimbabwe with Kapil Dev.
Kirmani acted in one movie, and a very popular one at that. It was the 1985 film ‘Kabhi Ajnabi The’ in which he played the villain.
Kirmani also appeared in a cameo role in the 2012 Malyalam movie ‘Mazhavillinattam Vare’.
PNN/Agencies