Published: Sep 16, 2016, 12:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 17, 2016, 11:20 AM (IST)
Cricketers have shared a relationship with camera since time immemorial. We are not referring to acting here, but the cricketers have to invariably face the camera to give media bytes to the reporters. Besides, thanks to their popularity, they often get to endorse brands and thus come in front of the camera. Yet there are few, who have gone beyond to act in films too. Sandeep Patil, Ajay Jadeja, Salil Ankola, Yograj Singh, Vinod Kambli et al are the names that immediately come to mind. And then there is MS Dhoni, on whom an entire movie is coming out now.
Dhoni, whose biopic ‘MS Dhoni – The Untold Story’ comes out on September 30, is not averse to acting. We have seen him act in numerous TV commercials. But he did not act in the movie based on his own life. Instead, actor Sushant Singh Rajput has essayed his role in the film. As the release date approaches near, the PR guys of the movie are spilling new beans every day. In a latest such act, Sushant has revealed that the dashing cricketer is a supremely talented actor. The two have shot many promotional videos for the films together, and thus Sushant’s statement holds significance as he has seen Dhoni up, close and personal during this period.
Speaking about Dhoni’s acting skills, Sushant claimed that Dhoni is a natural actor. “He (Dhoni) is a very good actor. If you watch one of the videos we did, where he is asking me what’s there in the film, the scripted lines were just five-six. I came up with some lines, just like that and he reacted on them,” Sushant told reporters, before going on to add, “Then I reacted, then he did. So he is a very good actor. If you’re listening, you’re an 80 per cent actor.”
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When asked if Dhoni can become a good actor, Sushant came up with a witty reply. “Well if he decides to be an actor then we need to think of Plan B because he is very good at whatever he decides (to do),” Sushant said. The actor then said how Dhoni’s presence helped him with the role. “Normally when we do fictional characters, we don’t have a reference point. But when you’re playing Dhoni, you have a reference point. Body language, mannerism or may be playing style,” Sushant said.
He also added that how playing ‘captain cool’ on screen was challenging in its own ways. “I had to take care of that too. Because very quickly I realised that I could be very good in the film as an actor, but I could still not be convincing if I don’t remind you of him. Those were the things which we took care of so that there is no jerk,” he said. Sushant concluded by saying he was indeed a big fan of Dhoni and it was a pleasure to work alongside him. “I am a big fan, so getting a chance, talking to him, he is answering my questions…in between, in breaks I used to ask him how to hold a bat. MS Dhoni, telling you, it’s surreal. There are many things that’ll stay with me for a while.”
