Udaipur, April 06, 2025: Cricket and cinema are like religions in India. That’s why cricket has always found a place in Hindi films. Sometimes as a cricketer’s biopic, sometimes as a fictional story like a match against colonial rulers. But have you ever wondered — when did the connection between cricket and Bollywood truly begin? And more importantly, is making a film about cricket always a guaranteed box office hit? In this article, we’ll break down everything — from the start of cricket-yoga in Hindi cinema to whether these movies are really hits or just hyped up.

Praveen Tambe: From a Middle-Class Dreamer to IPL Star

Praveen Tambe was born into a middle-class family in Mumbai. His only dream in life was to play first-class cricket. However, he struggled to find a place in the teams. As he grew older, the boys around him began calling him "Uncle," but Praveen didn’t let that affect him. He remained focused on his dream.

The IPL Opportunity: A Late-Blooming Cricketer's Big Break

Years later, the Indian Premier League (IPL) began, and teams started looking for leg spinners. Finally, Praveen was given a chance. In 2013, Rajasthan Royals, led by Rahul Dravid, bought him during the auction — at the age of 41!

A Dream Come True: The Hat-Trick and Emotional Return

In the very next year, Praveen took the field for Rajasthan Royals. During a match against Kolkata Knight Riders, he took a hat-trick and was named Man of the Match. After years of struggle, his dream came true. Overcome with emotion, Praveen returned to the dressing room in tears. He had become a household name, and the "uncle" from Mumbai’s cricket community was now a star.

Bollywood Biopic: Shreyas Talpade Brings Tambe’s Story to Life

If you're a Bollywood fan, you may already know the next part of the story — the biopic of Praveen Tambe. The movie, Kaun Praveen Tambe?, was released in 2022, with Shreyas Talpade playing the role of Praveen.

Shreyas Talpade’s Struggles Before Landing the Role

When Shreyas auditioned for the movie, his career was at a low point, and top producers had stopped calling him. "Before the audition, many people asked me if I could pull off this role," Shreyas told In a media interview.

Shreyas Talpade's Journey as a Cricketer On-Screen

Shreyas Talpade started practicing cricket regularly to adapt to his character in the film. The movie shows Pravin Tambe’s life from the age of 20 to 41. But this was not the first time Shreyas played a cricketer on-screen. He had earlier acted in the acclaimed film Iqbal in 2005.

In Iqbal, Shreyas played the role of a deaf and mute village boy whose dream was to play cricket for India. Before starting work on the Pravin Tambe film, Shreyas watched Iqbal again to refresh his mind. “It wasn’t just for the film, I wanted to see myself again. I thought, this time I can do it better,” he said.

After Iqbal, Shreyas once again portrayed a cricketer from a middle-class background. He believes sports and life are deeply connected. “Sports are actually a metaphor for life,” he said. Even today, people tell him they watch Iqbal to get inspired. Shreyas believes cricket is so popular in India that films based on it can touch millions of lives.

Cricket is the Story of India

The story of cricket in India is not just about the game—it reflects the lives of ordinary people. From children struggling with poverty and discrimination to those chasing big dreams, cricket represents their journey.

Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, is often called India’s ‘magic machine’—a place where the lives of common people are shown on screen. This includes stories about cricket, hockey, and other sports.

“Cricket and cinema are two religions in our country,” said Hindi film director Kabir Khan, who made the film 83 based on India's 1983 World Cup win. According to him, Bollywood could have done even more with cricket, considering its popularity in India.

Bollywood's First Connection with Cricket

Bollywood’s relationship with cricket began in the 1950s with the black-and-white film Love Marriage. Back then, Test cricket was the main format and lasted five days. It was not easy to show such a slow-paced game on screen.

Turning Point: Lagaan

In 2001, Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, changed everything. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Although it didn’t win, it changed the way Bollywood looked at cricket.

Before Lagaan, cricket in films was not taken seriously. But Lagaan, set during British rule in the 1890s, was more than just a sports story. It focused on colonial rule, caste discrimination, and social unity. Villagers from different communities come together to play cricket against the British. If they win, their taxes will be waived for two years; if they lose, the taxes will triple.

Director Srijit Mukherjee said, “Lagaan was a smart production. I remember the cinema hall turning into a stadium during the film.” At the time, Indian cricket was under a dark cloud due to the match-fixing controversy. But Lagaan gave people new hope.

Producer Bhasan Bala said the excitement of Lagaan was not just about cricket, but about how a game can change lives.

Rise of Biopics: From Iqbal to MS Dhoni: The Untold Story

After Iqbal, one of the most successful cricket biopics was MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, released in 2016. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, it told the story of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, from a railway ticket collector to the captain of India's World Cup-winning team in 2011. Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput played the role of Dhoni.

83: A Big Budget Cricket Film

Kabir Khan, director of 83, said, “A good sports movie is one where a person comes back from defeat.” In 1983, India was the underdog, which made the story exciting.

Ranveer Singh played Kapil Dev in the movie. His look in the film surprised many because he looked exactly like Kapil. The actors trained for months. Ranveer also spent two weeks with Kapil Dev to learn his body language and speech.

The film was made with a budget of $34 million, making it one of the most expensive Hindi films. It received praise from critics but flopped at the box office due to COVID-related closures shortly after its release. Still, 83 set a new standard for cricket films in India.

Shabaash Mithu: Story of a Female Cricketer

After 83, Srijit Mukherjee directed Shabaash Mithu, based on Mithali Raj, who led the Indian women’s cricket team. The movie showed how Mithali overcame social barriers and inspired many. Actress Taapsee Pannu played the lead role. However, the film failed at the box office.

Does Cricket Work in Bollywood?

Despite a few successes, most cricket-based movies have not done well commercially. The belief that "cricket doesn’t work in Bollywood" is slowly returning—just like it was before Lagaan. Still, films like Iqbal, Lagaan, MS Dhoni, and 83 prove that with the right story and emotion, cricket films can strike a chord with the audience.