Varun Dhawan consulted Virat Kohli before finalising Dishoom plot

Cricketers are in great demand in Hindi film industry, with filmmakers choosing to make biopics on the Men in Blue. The year has already seen a rather unsuccessful biopic on former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin and later this year we will see one on current Indian ODI and T20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

While Varun Dhawan and John Abraham-starrer Dishoom is fictional tale, its core plot hinges on the kidnapping of India’s top cricketer.

Dhawan and co. unveiled the trailer of Dishoom yesterday at a plush multiplex in Mumbai. Media persons were in for a pleasant surprise when it was revealed that the film centers around the kidnapping of India’s top cricketer, who goes by the name of Viraj Sharma.

Well, we know how director Rohit Dhawan has conjured this name. An obvious reference to India’s Test skipper Virat Kohli was bound to crop up. Even though Dishoom is a fictional tale, Varun Dhawan informed Virat Kohli of their film’s plot before they went ahead with the plot.

Speaking at the launch, Varun Dhawan said, “Virat and I know each other well since we both support the same football club (Goa) in Indian Super League. After hearing the plot, I informed Virat Kohli about our film. He had no qualms with our film’s plot and was pretty cool with the idea.” Kohli is one of the owners of the ISL franchise FC Goa, with Dhawan as its celebrity ambassador.

Meanwhile, director Rohit Dhawan had this to say: “Viraj Sharma is as great a player as Virat Kohli, but he is not Virat Kohli. He’s as good looking and dynamic personality as Virat but he is not Virat Kohli. Look, today the top Indian cricketer happens to be Virat Kohli. So, it was all but natural that our character had shades of Virat Kohli. However, I reiterate, he is not Virat Kohli.”

Dishoom is slated for a wordwide release on 29 July, 2016.