MUMBAI: A Bollywood biopic of Mahendra Singh Dhoni is to bring a tragic episode in the Indian cricket hero’s life to movie screens — the death of his first love.
“MS Dhoni: The Untold Story,” due for release on Sept. 30, charts the rise of India’s limited-overs captain from boy to train ticket collector to World Cup glory.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who plays Dhoni, told AFP in a video interview that filming scenes that dealt with the death of the cricketer’s former girlfriend had been heart-rending.
“It was very difficult because, after we did the preparation, in my head I was him and everything that was happening was actually affecting me,” said the 30-year-old.
In 2002 Dhoni was in his early 20s and trying to break into India’s national team when his girlfriend, Priyanka Jha, was killed in a road accident, according to Indian media reports.
A music video released by producers as a teaser shows Dhoni’s character romancing his sweetheart, played in the movie by Disha Patani, just before her death.
Rajput said that it was a particularly moving scene to film.
“It was just before I lose her... I was emotional,” explained Rajput.
The Hindi actor watched “hours and hours” of videos of Dhoni and met the star several times to study his mannerisms.
“There was a certain level of subconscious imitation and it happened from completely immersing myself in him, either thinking about him or looking at him or behaving like him,” said Rajput.
Dhoni told a promotional event in New York that he hadn’t enjoyed relaying elements of his life.
“MS Dhoni: The Untold Story,” due for release on Sept. 30, charts the rise of India’s limited-overs captain from boy to train ticket collector to World Cup glory.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who plays Dhoni, told AFP in a video interview that filming scenes that dealt with the death of the cricketer’s former girlfriend had been heart-rending.
“It was very difficult because, after we did the preparation, in my head I was him and everything that was happening was actually affecting me,” said the 30-year-old.
In 2002 Dhoni was in his early 20s and trying to break into India’s national team when his girlfriend, Priyanka Jha, was killed in a road accident, according to Indian media reports.
A music video released by producers as a teaser shows Dhoni’s character romancing his sweetheart, played in the movie by Disha Patani, just before her death.
Rajput said that it was a particularly moving scene to film.
“It was just before I lose her... I was emotional,” explained Rajput.
The Hindi actor watched “hours and hours” of videos of Dhoni and met the star several times to study his mannerisms.
“There was a certain level of subconscious imitation and it happened from completely immersing myself in him, either thinking about him or looking at him or behaving like him,” said Rajput.
Dhoni told a promotional event in New York that he hadn’t enjoyed relaying elements of his life.
