It is important to promote and support sports like Tennis in a Cricket loving nation like India says Vishal Bhardwaj

Critically acclaimed filmmaker and music composer Vishal Bhardwaj has said that it is important to promote and support sports like Tennis in a Cricket loving nation like India. He hoped that younger generation will take inspiration from well-known Indian Tennis players like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza and represent the country at an international level.

Vishal Bhardwaj was interacting with News Helpline at the third edition of Tennis Premier League’s player auction ceremony in Mumbai.

Talking about Tennis Premier League and his love for Tennis, Bhardwaj said, “It’s a great initiative because we don’t give much importance to other sports other than Cricket in our country. I used to be a Cricket player but now, I have been playing Tennis for many years. I feel it (Tennis) is one of the most important and respected games in the world. It is necessary to promote and support events like these and I hope the younger generation of our country would take up this sport and become well known players like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza who have represented our country at an international level.”

The league which was launched in 2018 by Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Tennis maestro Leander Paes, gained popularity across India and this year it will host 8 powerful teams with 80 players.

The third season launched in March 2021 and the auction took place on Tuesday with the owners of the respective 8 teams in attendance. Pune Jaguars, Bengaluru Spartans, Delhi Binny's Brigade, Gujarat Panthers, Mumbai Leon Army, Chennai Stallions, Rajasthan Tigers, and Finecab Hyderabad Strikers are the eight teams in the competition.

When asked Bhardwaj which team he will be supporting after the commencement of the league, he said, “I am here to support all teams. I feel that whichever team will put up their best efforts, it will win the tournament.”

When asked Bhardwaj whether he is planning to make a film on any sports person's life, he said, “I am not planning to make a film on any sports person's life at the moment but I am looking forward to watch Saina Nehwal’s (Badminton player) biopic which is directed by Amol Gupte.  He is one of my favorite filmmakers from the country. I feel that we should definitely make a film on Leander (Paes) and Mahesh’s (Bhupati) life. If I get an opportunity to make a film on their lives then I would definitely make it.”

Vishal Bhardwaj last directorial film ‘Pataakha’ (2018) which starred Sanya Malhotra, Radhika Madan and Sunil Grover didn’t fared well at the box-office.

On the professional front, Veteran lyricist Gulzar has once again collaborated with filmmaker-composer Vishal Bhardwaj. The duo has created the tracks ‘Marenge to wahin jaakar’ and ‘O re bidesiya’ that will feature in Vinod Kapri’s upcoming documentary film ‘1232 KMS.’ The film is about mass migration of workers and underprivileged people when lockdown was announced last year. It will start streaming on Hotstar from 24 March 2021.

Apart from that, Vishal Bharwaj will again collaborate with Gulzar in Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Vijay Verma starrer ‘Darlings’. Gulzar and Bhardwaj  have collaborated on many occasions and have composed music for some of the most memorable films including ‘Omkara’, ‘Chachi 420’, ‘Kaminey’, ‘Haider’, ‘Ishqiya’ and ‘Maachis’ and many more.

Directed by Jasmeet Reen, ‘Darlings’ is being produced by Gauri Khan, Alia Bhatt and Gaurav Verma.