Actor Saiyami Kher Advocates for Cinematic Celebration of Indian Women's Cricket Triumph

Mumbai, Nov 7 (PTI) Actor Saiyami Kher, a passionate cricket enthusiast, believes that the inspiring journey of Indian women cricketers and their recent World Cup triumph warrants a cinematic depiction.

India secured their first-ever global title in women’s cricket by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the 50-over World Cup final held in Navi Mumbai on a memorable Sunday, marking a milestone moment in a cricket-loving nation.

Saiyami, who portrayed a cricketer in the 2023 sports drama Ghoomer, expressed that a movie alone cannot capture the compelling stories of the players who contributed to this historic achievement.

“I believe more than a movie, it would be fitting to see a detailed series, documentaries, or a docu-series rather than just a film, as there are numerous stories that a two-hour film would not do justice to,” Kher shared in an interview with PTI.

“Ravi Chandran Ashwin, the cricketer, mentioned this, and I fully concur that numerous stories need to be told, and a series would be a more suitable option,” she added.

The 33-year-old actor adjusted her travel schedule to ensure her presence at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai for the World Cup final.

She mentioned that she returned from a family trip to Italy and completed her work commitments on the film Haiwaan, starring alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, before heading to the stadium for the match.

“It is the World Cup final, and there was no way I was going to miss it. Although I was not supposed to be in the city, I rearranged my plans because nothing could make me miss it. I was present in 2011 when the men played, so why would it be any different for the women's World Cup," she remarked.

Kher stated she was “overwhelmed” to witness a “fully packed stadium” supporting the women in blue, resulting in an intense and thrilling match.

“I was thrilled to see an entirely packed stadium filled with men and women, along with sold-out signs outside. The progress of women's cricket in India is remarkable, from paying spectators to attend to offering free tickets, and now, everything is sold out. This historic day marks a turning point in sports and women’s empowerment,” she said.

The actor expressed excitement about the timely re-release of Ghoomer in theaters, indicating it as a tribute to the recent victory of Indian women cricketers.

The film narrates the inspiring story of a paraplegic athlete portrayed by Kher, who excels as a cricketer under the mentorship of her coach, played by Abhishek Bachchan.

“I couldn't have asked for more perfect timing. The unpredictability of circumstances is remarkable. For R Balki (director) sir, it's more of a celebration and tribute to what the girls have achieved,” Kher commented.

“We aimed to create a film that applauds women in cricket and para-athletes, which was our focus two years ago. Unfortunately, due to the release of many films at that time, we didn’t get enough screens. Therefore, this re-release is a celebration and tribute to the achievements of the girls.”

Ghoomer, featuring Shabana Azmi, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, and Ivanka Das, initially released in theaters on August 12, 2023, and received positive reviews from critics.

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