Abhishek Bachchan as rugby coach in Nila Madhab Panda’s next?

Biopics are coming thick and fast. This time, it’s Rudraksha Jena, the coach of the rugby team of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneshwar who will have his story told to the world.

Reports state that Abhishek Bachchan has been asked to play the role of Jena. The film will be directed by Nila Madhab Panda whose debut film, ‘I Am Kalam,’ (2010) in which star Harsh Mayar won the Best Child Artist at the National Awards in 2011.

A source associated with the Shabbir Boxwala production told media that the makers who have officially bought the rights to Jena’s story have been in talks with Bachchan for the past month and are hoping to get him to be a part of the biopic soon, reports India Today.

The film is expected to roll next year and will be shot in India and the UK. “The sport has helped change the lives of many kids in Odisha. Rugby is not a popular sport in India but the makers are hoping the film will help generate interest among the aam janta,” added the source. In 2007, the under-14 rugby team from KISS lifted the trophy at the International School Rugby Tournament in London.

Bachchan recently walked out of JP Dutta’s film ‘Paltan’ so availability may not be an issue for him.

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