The movie is set to release in theatres on December 23
A movie on India’s towering sporting achievement has found a fitting display on the world’s tallest tower.
On Thursday, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa lit up with posters and highlights from the Bollywood movie 83 that recounts India’s win against all odds in the 1983 World Cup led by mercurial all-rounder Kapil Dev. The movie is set to hit UAE screens on December 23.
Ranveer Singh, who plays Dev, and his wife Deepika Padukone, who plays Kapil’s wife Romi in the movie, were there to watch it all with the movie director Kabir Khan, as were Kapil, Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath - legends from that revered team.
Before that, speaking to the press about one of the most-awaited movies, Ranveer said it was as if the movie was blessed by the stars, recounting instances during the shoot.
Speaking almost with reverence about being on the same historic Lord’s balcony where Kapil lifted the Cup almost four decades back, he said: “While shooting for the winning presentation ceremony, we were on the same balcony where India lifted the World Cup in 1983 and Sir Clive Lloyd (West Indies’ captain in the World Cup finals), who was coincidentally visiting Lord’s [stadium] on the same day, came in and sat at the monitor while we were shooting.
“And the Cup we lifted was the actual cup that Kapil Sir lifted in 1983. How spooky is that!”
Deepika, who is also the producer of the film, said: “I’ve seen my mother play the same role in my father’s life, as Romi Dev has played in Kapil’s life. The main reason for me playing this role was to pay homage to women who put the dreams of their husbands or their families before their own. I’ve seen it up-close and personal.”
A day before their arrival in Dubai, the team watched the film for the first time in public on December 15 at the Red Sea International Festival in Jeddah, where they received a standing ovation.
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Director Kabir Khan who brought the historic achievement to life, said: “In a country that lives, eats, sleeps, breathes cricket. Where everyone knows every little nuance of how the game was played in ’83, the most important and the biggest challenge was to recreate the euphoria and the emotion that was experienced by the entire country,” said Khan.
“When you watch the film on the big screen, will you feel the same euphoria that the country felt on June 25, 1983? That’s the challenge,” the award-winning director said.
Somya Mehta is a Senior Features Writer at Khaleej Times, who contributes extensively to the UAE's arts, culture, and lifestyle scene. When not engrossed in writing, you'll find her on the hunt for the next best solo travel destination or indulging in podcast binges.
somya@khaleejtimes.com