A tennis fan, filmmaker-composer Vishal Bhardwaj “would definitely make” a film based on Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.
Speaking at the player auction of Tennis Premier League, Vishal said, "I am not planning to make a film on any sports person's life at the moment but I am looking forward to watch Saina Nehwal's (Badminton player) biopic which is directed by Amol Gupte. He is one of my favourite filmmakers from the country. I feel that we should definitely make a film on Leander (Paes) and Mahesh's (Bhupati) life. If I get an opportunity to make a film on their lives I would definitely make it."
About the league, he said, "It's a great initiative because we don't give much importance to other sports but cricket in our country. I used to be a cricket player but now, I have been playing tennis for many years. I feel it (tennis) is one of the most important and respected games in the world."
Talking about the need for the younger generation to pick up the baton, he said, "I hope the younger generation of our country would take up this sport and become well-known players like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, who have represented at international level.”
On the professional front, veteran lyricist Gulzar has once again collaborated with filmmaker-composer Vishal Bhardwaj. The duo has created the tracks ‘Marenge to wahin jaakar' and ‘O re bidesiya' that will feature in Vinod Kapri's upcoming documentary film 1232 KMS. The film is about the mass migration of workers and underprivileged people when the lockdown was announced last year. It will start streaming on Hotstar on March 24, 2021.
Apart from that, Vishal will again collaborate with Gulzar for the film Darlings starring Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah and Vijay Verma. Directed by Jasmeet Reen, Darlings is produced by Gauri Khan, Alia Bhatt and Gaurav Verma.
Gulzar and Vishal have created memorable songs in many films including Omkara, Chachi 420, Kaminey, Haider, Ishqiya and Maachis.
If Vishal finally decides to make a film on Paes and Bhupathi, we wonder who would play the ace players. Meanwhile, another biopic of the badminton player Saina Nehwal is scheduled to release on March 26.