Taapsee Pannu to play cricketer Mithali Raj in her next biopic, Shabaash Mithu

Taapsee Pannu is set to play former Indian cricket captain, Mithali Raj, in the upcoming biopic, Shabaash Mithu. The film will be directed by Rahul Dholakia, and based on the life and journey of the former Indian women's cricket team captain. This will also be the first biopic based on Indian women's cricket. 

The actress broke the news on her social media page on the occasion of the cricketer's birthday. Taapsee wrote, "Happy Birthday Captain @M_Raj03 On this Birthday, I don’t know what gift I can give you but this promise that I shall give it all I have to make sure you will be proud of what you see of yourself on screen with #ShabaashMithu" 

Mithali Raj is a former Indian cricket captain and the highest run-scorer in one-day internationals for women's cricket. She also holds the record for being the only female cricketer to surpass the 6,000 run mark in one-day internationals for women's cricket. She is also famously called the 'female Tendulkar' for her batting prowess. 

The film will be backed by Viacom18 Studios. In a statement, Taapsee Pannu said, "It’s truly an honour to play the role of India’s most successful captain where Women’s Cricket is concerned. Even though I have already started feeling the pressure of stepping in her shoes, I don’t think I want to trade this place with anyone else right now. She has always been brave and strong to back truth and her idols, and that is the connect I feel with her." 

Shabaash Mithu will mark Taapsee Pannu's second biopic after Saand Ki Aankh (2019) earlier this year. She also has Thappad, Rashmi Rocket, and a supernatural thriller with Anurag Kashyap lined up for 2020.