Leander Paes – Rajdhani Express
Is there any close connection between the celluloid and the clay?
Cinema has absorbed several eminent sports players into it as their age catches up the retirement line.
It is “play for the passion” and “action after the retirement”.
It is not in the recent decades, we can very comfortably date back to 1900s. If you can remember or ask your older generations about India’s first Olympic appearance it was at Paris summer Olympics, 1900. As a matter of fact India was the first Asian nation to foot into the creases of the European sand. The first Indian (British descent) to take part in the International Games was Norman Pritchard. He won two silver medals for the country which is still considered to be a token of charity for us because of the hard reality that he was initially chosen for the Brits. Keeping the controversies apart, Norman did a better adept work at Hollywood than the tracks.
He later went on to Hollywood, he is well known as an actor.
The trend is not new; the tennis stars who was known for their alacrity at the late eighties none other than Amritraj brothers has also tasted the spice of entertainment through the screens.
Vijay Amritraj, Former Indian tennis star made a brief appearance in one of the Bond series, Octopussy whereas his brother Ashok Amritraj the founder of Hyde Park Entertainment has eternally settled in the shades of Hollywood.
Over 100 Hollywood films have come from his production house. Incredible!
Keep the leg running, follows former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh who had a short journey in the Indian Cricket went on to anchor few Tamil TV shows which too did not click. He acted in Tamil films. Though very insignificant, the industry was chosen by him.
Now Who?
Not one, not two but four films in his pocket he has decided to star in movies after retirement. “I cannot go on entertaining people with my tennis as the age increases” said the 12 Grand Slam doubles titles winner, the 37 year old, Leander Paes.
He is all set to make his debut in a film called “Rajadhani Express”. It is movies for me after I retire from the sport, says Paes.
It is not shocking or amusing; a different feeling is generated when ace players decide to shift to the Film Industry. Though not a wrong choice, it is unconventional when other ex-players become as trainers or coaches or consultants in their own fields acting is something different.
Eyes popped out, glued unbelieving on the idiot box, when I first saw the 143 runs scorer Ramesh anchoring a not-so-popular TV show. I am pretty sure it would be the same when I see Leander on the Rajdhani!
Tags: Asian, Hyde Park Entertainment, India, Indian Cricket, Indian Tennis, International Games, Leander Paes, Norman Pritchard, Octopussy, Paris Olympics, Rajadhani Express, Sports
