Taapsee Pannu To Feature in ‘Mithali Raj’ Biopic

BollywoodActor Taapsee Pannu will appear in "Shabaash Mithu", a film on Indian women's cricketteam captain Mithali Raj.

ShabaashMithu will be backed by Viacom 18 Studios and directed by "Raees" helmer RahulDholakia.

Tapsee said that she is honoured to play the role and has already started feeling the pressure of stepping in her shoes. In a statement issued by the actor, she said, "I don't think I want to trade this place with anyone else right now. She has always been brave and strong to back truth and her idols, and that is the connection I feel with her. The way she changed the way women's cricket is perceived and seen in India is truly a story worth telling."

She further stated that Kudos to Viacom18 Studios for choosing to tell this story. "I look forward to working with Rahul Dholakia for this first of its kind story and to learn yet another sport which is treated as a religion in our country, cricket," said Taapsee.

Ajit Andhare,COO, Viacom18 Studios while announcing the film on Mithali's birthday, saidthat the story idea struck him about a year ago while watching the movie "HiddenFigures."

He said, "After securing the rights we worked with several external writers to develop the script. However, it was our own creative director Priya Aven who cracked the script I was looking for. So, it's a completely home-grown film for us. Mithali Raj is a name that stands for women's power in the world of Indian cricket."

Andhare further stated that playing her will be the fearless Taapsee Pannu, who is not just a powerhouse of talent but also the face of the new age woman in Bollywood. Viacom18 Studios is proud to bring this untold story of the rise of Indian women's cricket to life on screen.

Mithalisaid with the film, she will get a bigger platform to reach young women who aredreaming to make it big.

Mithali, while quoted bynews agency PTI said, "I have always stoodfor and voiced my opinion for equal opportunity for women not just in cricketbut across all fields. I want to thank Ajit Andhare and Viacom18 Studios fornot just bringing alive my story on screen but also for giving me a biggerplatform to be able to reach out to young women who dare to dream."