VIDEO: Anushka Sharma to play cricketer Jhulan Goswami in Netflix movie Chakda Xpress, Teaser OUT!
Thursday, 6 January 2022 (11:15 IST)
Panaji: Online subscription company Netflix India on Thursday announced its next film Chakda Xpress starring Anushka Sharma.
"We are happy to announce Netflix's next film Chakda Xpress starring Anushka Sharma which traces the glorious journey of one of the fastest female pacers in the history of world cricket, Jhulan Goswami," a statement from the company said.
The film, being produced by Clean Slate Filmz and directed by Prosit Roy, is inspired by the incredible story of Jhulan Goswami.
Actress Anushka Sharma said, "It is a really special film because it is essentially a story of tremendous sacrifice. Chakda Xpress is inspired by the life and times of former Indian captain Jhulan Goswami and it will be an eye-opener into the world of women’s cricket."
"At a time when Jhulan decided to become a cricketer and make her country proud on the global stage, it was very tough for women to even think of playing the sport. This film is a dramatic retelling of several instances that shaped her life and also women’s cricket," she said.
"We should all salute Jhulan and her team-mates for revolutionizing women’s cricket in India. It is their hard work, their passion and their undefeated mission to bring attention to women’s cricket that has turned things around for generations to come" she said.
"As a woman, I was proud to hear Jhulan’s story and it is an honour for me to try and bring her life to the audiences and cricket lovers. As a cricketing nation, we have to give our women cricketers their due. Jhulan’s story is truly an underdog story in the history of cricket in India and the film is our celebration of her spirit," Anushka said.
Commenting on the development, Jhulan Goswami said, "When you represent India, that’s all that is on your mind. Tum desh ke liye khel rahe ho, apne liye nahi. 11 women playing to place Team India’s name in history."
"It doesn’t matter if they said ladkiyan cricket nahi khel sakti. It doesn’t matter if sometimes a man’s accomplishments are placed above your own. It doesn’t matter if the stadiums are empty. When you pull up on to the pitch to bowl, all you see is the opponent holding the cricket bat and the stumps you need to knock out," she said.
"It’s this level of unblinking focus that lends itself to success. That, and remembering that you’re here not in spite of everything that went wrong, but because of everything that went right. It’s about knowing one’s place in the world and having one’s feet firmly on the ground," Jhulan said.
Pratiksha Rao, Director, Films and Licensing, Netflix India, said the film while deeply inspiring, is also painfully astounding in revealing the many odds she encountered and Chakda Xpress is the story of her achievements in spite of those challenges.
"We are deeply honored and proud to bring this story of an unlikely champion and her contribution to Indian cricket to Netflix and are thrilled to partner with Clean Slate Filmz and with Anushka Sharma who has won audiences through the many unique roles she's performed with heartfelt emotion and passion," Rao said. (UNI)
