Bilkul photocopy kar diya, Ranji khel jaoge: When MS Dhoni saw Sushant Singh Rajput’s biopic performance

In a shocking news coming out from Mumbai, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his home in Bandra. The news sent shock waves all over the country and people started to pour in RIP condolences for the 34-year old actor. Since Sunday evening there has been a lot of talk about depression and mental health and other such things.

For a lot of cinema people, he was a famous actor but for most of the cricket lovers, he was the actor who brought MS Dhoni’s story to life. The man practically lived as Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself in the 2016 biopic movie – MS Dhoni – The untold story which was based on the former Indian captain.

When Dhoni himself saw Sushant in action

Doing a biopic movie is no easy job whatsoever. When taking up the role of a legend of Indian cricket in MS Dhoni, actor Sushant Singh Rajput had to work extremely hard to copy the mannerisms and cricketing style of the keeper batsman. Recalling the first time when Dhoni saw Sushant play his famous ‘helicopter shot’, producer of the movie and MS Dhoni’s business manager Pandey said

I still remember that child-like smile on Sushant’s face when Mahi, after watching a training clip of the actor playing the helicopter shot on his phone, said in jest: ‘Arre tu to bilkul photocopy kar diya, Ranji Trophy khel jaoge tum’.

Hardwork and determination lead to Sushant’s success

Sushant Singh Rajput took cricket practice for up to  9 months in nets session. He would try and emulate MS Dhoni in every way possible. There were even promos made for the film where the actor would mimic every action of the cricketer and subconsciously even follow him everywhere even till the washroom. The dedication that the actor showed to replicate MS Dhoni earned him so much accolades.

Pandey also talked about one day when Dhoni said to Sushant that he is asking too many questions. He said

He would have long sessions with Dhoni too. Again, the questions kept on coming

Producer Pandey also recalled a conversation between the actor and cricketer. ‘Arre bhai, kitne questions poochta hai tu!’ asked MS Dhoni once. I remember Sushant’s reply. He said, “Bhaisaab, everybody is going to search you in me, I will have to do everything the same way as you do.”