Before Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Dada’ first look, Sushant Singh Rajput tried to secure the rights in 2018 to play Sourav Ganguly on-screen

With the unveiling of the first-look poster for ‘Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story’, Rajkummar Rao will step into the shoes of India’s most defiant cricket captain. However, the announcement has also triggered waves of nostalgia and bittersweet memories online. Long before Rajkummar Rao was locked in to recreate the iconic shirtless Lord’s celebration under Vikramaditya Motwane’s direction, the late Sushant Singh Rajput had fiercely chased the project. Fresh off the monumental success of ‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’, Rajput was incredibly eager to portray ‘Dada’ on screen and had even initiated personal talks with the cricketing legend in 2018 to acquire his life rights.

Sushant Singh Rajput’s reported interest in the biopic

According to Pinkvilla, Sushant Singh Rajput was eager to headline a film based on Sourav Ganguly’s life after winning praise for his portrayal of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in ‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’. The actor reportedly wanted to continue exploring sports dramas and believed Ganguly’s journey would make for an inspiring cinematic story. Reports suggested that Sushant was deeply interested in portraying the former Indian skipper and even initiated efforts to acquire the rights to Ganguly’s life story. The report stated, “He was also trying to get the rights to Sourav Ganguly’s life because he was too excited to play him on screen. Sushant loved Dada and after meeting him, he had asked his team to initiate talks with the former Indian captain.”Reports claimed that discussions between Sushant’s representatives and Sourav Ganguly took place in 2018. However, Ganguly was reportedly not ready to have a film made on his life at that stage. The report further claimed, “Ganguly wasn’t too keen on a film being made on his life then and politely turned down the offer. Sushant was a bit upset about it but also requested the cricketer to give him the rights to his biopic, when he felt comfortable. He had also smiled and agreed at that point.” Although the project did not materialise then, the reported interaction continued to be remembered by fans after Sushant’s passing.

Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely death and family’s demand for answers

In June 2020, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his residence in Mumbai. His death became one of the most widely discussed cases in the country, leading to multiple investigations and widespread public attention. Over the years, his sister Shweta Singh Kirti has continued to seek updates regarding the investigation. In March 2024, she shared a video message urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.

Rajkummar Rao steps into Ganguly’s shoes

The biopic has now officially moved forward with Rajkummar Rao playing Sourav Ganguly. The recently released first-look poster recreates Ganguly’s iconic celebration on the balcony of Lord’s Cricket Ground following India’s memorable victory in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final. Before Rajkummar Rao’s casting was officially confirmed, reports had also linked Ranbir Kapoor to the project. However, Sourav Ganguly later announced that Rajkummar would headline the film.Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, ‘Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story’ is scheduled to arrive in theatres on May 14, 2027.