EXCLUSIVE: Arjun Kapoor was to play Kapil Dev in the ‘83 biopic but Phantom films wanted Ranveer Singh?

Did you know that the script of 83 was FIRST offered to Arjun Kapoor and NOT Ranveer Singh? Yes, you heard it right! Read to know more.

Updated on Oct 14, 2018  |  10:59 PM IST |  507.2K

For all the cricket enthusiasts, it will be a treat to see the 1983 match getting revived on the big screen. Ever since Kabir Khan announced a film with actor Ranveer Singh, based on the life of Kapil Dev and the iconic World Cup win of the Indian Cricket Team in 1983, the audience has been excited to know everything about the film. What if we tell you that Ranveer Singh wasn't the FIRST choice for the film? Did you know that the script of 83 was offered to Arjun Kapoor? Yes, you heard it right!

A source in the know told us, earlier it was Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan of Lahore fame who was to direct the film. So now the story is that Sanjay had first approached Arjun Kapoor to play Kapil Dev in the ‘83 biopic. Arjun gave his nod instantly and thought of approaching Phantom films to produce the film. The duo had a successful meeting with the Phantom men and were waiting for their revert. In the meantime Phantom decided to rope in Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev and the captain of the ship Kabir Khan. The source added, "Arjun took Sanjay and the film to Phantom Films to produce the film for them. But later they found out from the media that that they were replaced by Kabir Khan and Ranveer Singh." 

 
Divulging more details here, as everything about 1983 match is available, it isn’t fiction and hence it was easier for them to not get into further issues. Kabir Khan is still researching about the film and his Instagram proves the same. Sources say that this is also one of the reasons that Phantom films hosted an event just to announce the film. It is very rare for any producer to host an entire event just to announce the film but Phantom chose to do so.

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 About the film, Ranveer had earlier told Hindustan Times that it is one of the greatest sports stories about how a bunch of underdogs who were banded together were galvanized by their leader and thus, they won the world cup for the country.

The film was earlier set to release on April 5, 2019. Later, the makers announced that it will release on August 30, 2019. Well, the release date of this Ranveer Singh starrer is changed yet again and the film will now hit the screens on April 10, 2020.

The film is expected to go on floors by the end of this year. When Ranveer was asked about his reaction on being offered the role of Kapil Dev, he stated, "I was born at the time when cricket was big time. When Kabir Sahab had come to me and said that there will be a film on 83, I was like finally. And when he was narrating it to me, I was like woooh. It is not a story just about cricket but a human story." 

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The film is expected to go on floors by the end of this year. When Ranveer was asked about his reaction on being offered the role of Kapil Dev, he stated, "I was born at the time when cricket was big time. When Kabir Sahab had come to me and said that there will be a film on 83, I was like finally. And when he was narrating it to me, I was like woooh. It is not a story just about cricket but a human story." 

Are you excited to see 83? 

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Pinkvilla Desk
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