Mumbai: Former cricketer Sreesanth is all set to make his Bollywood debut with Pooja Bhatt’s film ‘Cabaret’.
Sreesanth, who made headlines for his alleged role in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing controversy last year, has been quite familiar with people in the showbiz world.
His participation in dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ helped him expand his horizon and look for a career in the world of entertainment.
Pooja took to Twitter to break this news.
She tweeted:
Pic I took of @sreesanth36 & his adorable wife Nain celebrating his signing of @CabaretTheFilm with @Supersonex & fly pic.twitter.com/pfaDoi5THw
— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) November 22, 2014
In the film, which has been titled 'Cabaret', the former India pacer will be seen donning the role of a Malayali mentor to the movie's leading lady Richa Chadda's character, who is a dancer.
Talking about her decision to cast Sreesanth, Pooja said, “I met Sreesanth a day before his birthday earlier this month at his home. I knew that he would be able to play the role of a Malayali guy, who mentors a dancer. I cast him on my instinct. Initially we had thought of casting someone who is older but when I saw him I felt he is perfect for the role.”
"The character is very close to his persona. I have asked him to retain his Malayali accent. Sreesanth is a natural performer, he is camera friendly and I have a gut feeling that the film will do him good," Pooja added.
"I have met him before but I must say that he is a different man today. He has gone through so much in his life. He has tasted the peak of success and then he went to hell and back. But there is still a lot of fire in him. I think he wants to prove to people, who have written him off," Pooja said.
Besides Sreesanth and Richa, 'Cabaret' to be directed by debutante Kaustav Narayan Niyogi, will also star Gulshan Devaiah.
The film, co-produced by T-Series, will go on floors in January 2015.
(With PTI inputs)
