Mumbai: Director Abhishek Chaubey will be making the biopic on legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand for Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies, the makers announced on Tuesday. Titled Dhyanchand, the film, which can be produced by RSVP unitedly with Blue Monkey Films, will proceed floors next year.
Dhyan Chand is regarded as the best player in the history of hockey, who earned three Olympic gold medals in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin) for India. The film marks a reunion between Screwvala and Abhishek Chaubey after their 2019 outing Sonchiriya. The film script written by Supratik Sen and Chaubey, the casting of the film is currently underway, with a top star expected to come on board to play the titular role of the hockey wizard.
“Dhyan Chand is one of the greatest hockey players in the history of our national sport, and it is a matter of pride to direct his biopic. We had massive amount of research material in hand, and honestly, every achievement of his life deserves a separate story in itself. I am grateful to have a superb creative force like Ronnie Screwvala backing the film, and that we can’t wait to induce started next year. Hoping to announce the lead actor soon,” Abhishek Chaubey said.
Ronnie Screwvala, who has previously produced films like Rang De Basanti, Swades and Uri. The Surgica Strike, said Abhishek Chaubey is the best choice to chronicle the greatness of Dhyan Chand’s achievements.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to collaborate with him again after Sonchiriya. Dhyan Chand is that the biggest icon of Indian sports whom unfortunately the youth of today do not know much about. There couldn’t are a greater underdog story than Dhyan Chand’s and that I can’t wait to bring this film to the audiences.”
Olympic medalist Ashok Kumar, son of the hockey legend, said he is excited to bring his father’s story to the large screen. “There is not any better ice-hockey player so far within the world like three-time Olympic gold medalist Dhyan Chand.
When Rohit Vaid (creative producer of Blue Monkey Films) approached me with the desire to make a film on my father, I was instantly drawn to his intensity and passion for the project. The genius of Dhyan Chand and his achievements are going to be seen by the world and my family and I are thrilled to be part of this,” the winning goal scorer within the 1975 World Cup Hockey said.
Producer Premnath Rajagopalan of Blue Monkey Films said every citizen of the country must understand the legend of Dhyan Chand. “Rohit and me are grateful to Ashok Kumar and family for putting their faith in us.
It is a legacy and a story that everybody should know, not only in our country but also the world. We also are looking forward to taking our partnership with Ronnie forward as this would be our second project,” he added. Dhyanchand will be released countrywide in 2022.