Rajkummar Rao will play Sourav Ganguly in biopic, confirms former cricketer

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao will portray him in his upcoming biopic. Speaking to the media in Bardhaman, West Bengal, Ganguly stated, "From what I've heard, Rajkummar Rao will play the role (the titular role)...but there are issues of dates...so it will take more than a year to hit the screens." The film, based on Ganguly’s life and career, has been in development, but scheduling conflicts have caused delays.

Ganguly, known as the "Prince of Kolkata," played 113 Test matches and 311 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India. He scored 18,575 international runs across formats and led India to 21 Test victories as captain. Under his leadership, India reached the final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also played a key role in reshaping Indian cricket in the early 2000s, mentoring several future stars of the national team.

Beyond his playing career, Ganguly transitioned into cricket administration, first as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and later as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in October 2019. He was also a member of the BCCI’s technical committee and served on the Cricket Advisory Committee alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. Ganguly retired from international cricket in 2008, leaving a significant impact on Indian cricket.

Rajkummar Rao, who has been finalized for the biopic, is currently involved in multiple film projects. He will next be seen in Bhool Chuk Maaf, a romantic comedy alongside Wamiqa Gabbi. The film’s teaser introduces a time-loop plot where Rao’s character relives his wedding day repeatedly. The teaser also features the 2009 song Chor Bazaari from Love Aaj Kal. Directed by Karan Sharma, the film is produced under the Maddock Films and Amazon MGM Studios banner.

In addition to Bhool Chuk Maaf, Rao is set to star in Maalik, a film produced by Kumar Taurani’s Tips Films and Jay Shewakramani’s Northern Lights Films. Scheduled for a theatrical release on June 20, 2025, Maalik is expected to be a major project for the actor. With the biopic delayed, fans will have to wait longer to see Rao portray Ganguly on screen, while the actor continues his slate of upcoming releases.