Exclusive: Sachin's biopic has this connection with Baahubali: The Conclusion

With exactly seven weeks to go before the May 26 release of the most anticipated biopic on cricketing sensation, Sachin Tendulkar, the makers are lining up a massive release, both in India and on the international front. The distribution rights of Sachin: A Billion Dreams were recently bought at an exorbitant price, by well-known Mumbai distributor, Anil Thadani, who is also releasing the Hindi version of Baahubali in association with Karan Johar. “We are glad to have the Baahubali distributor on board for the release of the Sachin biopic. We are looking at the biggest release ever in keeping with the huge anticipation surrounding the film’s release. Also, we are planning a really huge international release because the entire crew is international, including its London-based director, James Erskine,” says the film’s producer and Sachin’s close friend, Ravi Bhagchandka, also a professional cricket player and a famed ad film director and proprietor of the ad company 200 NotOut, which initiated the idea for the biopic.

Apparently the release date was announced by Sachin only after he was thoroughly convinced about the way the first draft of the film had shaped up. There was talk that the Master Blaster, who is a tough disciplinarian, was keenly monitoring every stage of the filmmaking process and ensuring that it unfolded on screen, exactly the way he wanted it. There were also reports that Sachin, being a perfectionist had suggested changes in the first draft and also wanted it to be shown to professional film experts, before approving it. When asked about this, Bhagchandka revealed, “Sachin has always been a perfectionist. That’s his nature from his playing days so there is nothing new about it. Of course, there’s no denying the fact that he has been very closely associated with the making of the film. It is now almost three-and-a-half years since we started and we wanted to make sure that it was completely in keeping with what we had planned. It will be a treat to Sachin's cricket fans all over the world.”