Was excited, not nervous, to play Dhoni on screen: Sushant

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who plays the title role in an upcoming biopic on Indian cricketer MS Dhoni, felt excited, rather than anxious, to portray the legendary sportperson on silver screen. 

“There was more excitement than pressure. I had the opportunity to know his (Dhoni) story closely from him (Dhoni) and play his part on screen. So there was more excitement but not pressure,” said Sushant at the trailer launch of M S Dhoni: The Untold Story.

“When you do a film you improve as an actor but there are some films where you end up becoming a good human being after doing it (film),” he said. The Kai Po Che actor revealed it was in 2007 that he first met the Ranchi-born cricketer with his family. “I have enormous respect for him (Dhoni),” the 30-year-old actor added. 

The ODI captain, who was present at the trailer launch, revealed Sushant used to often ask a lot of questions to understand his life story. “He (Sushant) used to ask a lot of questions. Initially I was OK but after 15-20 minutes I was like ‘I am talking about only myself...I need a break now’,” said the 35-year-old batsman-wicketkeeper, under whose captaincy India won 2007 T-20 and 2011 50-over World Cups. 

Sushant also cleared the air about his link up rumours, saying that the clarification given by his Raabta co-star Kriti Sanon on their link-up rumours is right as she voices the truth. 

Last month, the actor tried to put an end to dating rumours with Sushant by slamming such reports and calling them untrue.  When asked to comment on the reports, Sushant said, “Kriti always speaks the truth. Whatever she said is right.” 

While Sushant was busy working on the movie, his personal life garnered spotlight since his break-up with long-time girlfriend Ankita Lokhande last year. 

The Detective Byomkesh Bakshy star also suffered a rib injury while practising a cricketing shot for M S Dhoni: The Untold Story. 

Sushant, however, said neither the break-up nor the physical injury deterred him from focusing on the film. “Injury was in body, heart break was in heart, but the mind was completely fine so it was okay. None of the two things affected me while shooting the film,” he said. 

Sushant who perhaps had plans to settle down this year before breaking up with his girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, said he would get married after finding a girl.  When asked about his marriage plans, Sushant said, “First let me find a girl, I will get married after that.” 

Directed by Neeraj Pandey, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story also stars Anupam Kher, Kiara Advani and Disha Patani. It is scheduled for release on September 30.