New Delhi: He may have been out from the cricket field for life but he is now into the filmdom and will play his spell of his new life, what we also call it as his second inning.
Yes, the former Indian cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth who was banned for life by the BCCI last year after being found guilty in spot-fixing matches in IPL is all set to make his Bollywood debut. The fast bowler now tuned into an actor has landed himself a role in a film titled ‘Cabaret' which will be directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi under Pooja Bhatt's production.
The former India pacer will be seen donning the role of a Malayali mentor to the movie's leading lady Richa Chadda's character, who is a dancer.
Pooja Bhatt who roped him in the movie says the decision to cast him was quick and instinctive. “I met Sreesanth a day before his birthday earlier this month at his home. I knew that he would be able to play the role of a Malayali guy, who mentors a dancer. I cast him on my instinct. Initially we had thought of casting someone who is older but when I saw him I felt he is perfect for the role.
“The character is very close to his persona. I have asked him to retain his Malayali accent. Sreesanth is a natural performer, he is camera friendly and I have a gut feeling that the film will do him good,” Pooja told PTI. Sreesanth, 31, has displayed his dancing skills earlier in a dance-based reality TV show.
The 42-year-old director-producer said that with the film, Sreesanth will be able to make a comeback. “I have met him before but I must say that he is a different man today. He has gone through so much in his life. He has tasted the peak of success and then he went to hell and back. But there is still a lot of fire in him. I think he wants to prove to people, who have written him off,” Pooja said.
Besides Sreesanth and Richa, ‘Cabaret' to be directed by debutante Kaustav Narayan Niyogi, will also star Gulshan Devaiah.
The film, co-produced by T-Series, will go on floors in January 2015.
