Amid debate on Rajkummar Rao’s casting on internet, Sourav Ganguly approves of Dada’s poster
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly praised the first look of Rajkummar Rao’s grandfather and said that it brought back memories of the 2002 NatWest final. The poster garnered mixed reactions online as the actor’s casting was debated on the internet.
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly lauds the first-look poster Dada – The Sourav Ganguly StorySaying that it took him back to the 2002 NatWest Final and the Lord’s balcony. His reaction came after the first look of the Rajkummar Rao starrer received mixed reactions online after its release. Some social media users even said that the actor looked like a misfit.
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The poster was unveiled on Ganguly’s birthday, with the makers also announcing that the biopic will release in theaters on an extended holiday weekend on May 14, 2027.
In a video message on Wednesday, the 54-year-old thanked fans for their well wishes and said Prince had done an “incredible job” recreating one of the most memorable moments of his career.
Referring to the launch of the first look of the film and Rajkumar’s character, Ganguly said, “Thank you all for these warm birthday wishes. It makes me feel so humbled year after year that I get so much love and affection from so many people across the country and the world.”
She further added, “Today marks the launch of the first look of my biopic. Rajkumar, I think he has done an incredible job, and it makes it even more special because it reminds me of the 2002 NatWest final and the Lord’s balcony, which has been recreated by Rajkumar and the cast and crew of my biopic. So once again, thank you very much for my birthday wishes and, like I said, it makes me feel incredibly humbled every year.”
The first look poster recreates Ganguly’s shirt-waving celebration from the Lord’s balcony after India’s NatWest Trophy win over England in 2002. This image has long been associated with a new phase in Indian cricket under Ganguly.
Ganguly also shared the poster on Instagram and wrote, “Best gift ever! Can’t wait to see you play my cover drive! (sic)”
Following the release of the poster, it received mixed reactions online. Many users said that they were excited to see Ganguly’s journey on screen.
One comment read, “Sourav Ganguly was my favorite player at that time. He just clicked.” Another said, “If Rajkumar performs that down-to-the-ground step-out six and God-level cover drive, it’s an automatic blockbuster. The God of the Off-Side meets one of the finest actors of our times. Can’t wait.”
However, some users weren’t convinced by the 41-year-old actor’s appearance at first glance. One response said, “Man, at first glance it looks AI generated.” Another user wrote, “No doubt Rajkumar is a good actor, but he looks like a misfit here. No extreme details given by the casting director.”
Dada – The Sourav Ganguly Story Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg.