After making his first international century in 1990, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar had to address a press conference. He didn't know what would happen there. Back in the dressing room, he kept asking everyone what he was going to be asked. Twenty-seven years later, he had the same feeling while addressing a press conference for the trailer launch of Sachin: A Billion Dreams—a movie that documents his life and the times he played in.
The cricketer was at his candid best while talking at the conference, from sharing stories of his fascination for cricket to his first memories of watching a film, he shared it all in the brief time.
He was just three-four years old when he had gone to watch the film, Maa, with his family. They were travelling in a bus when the conductor came shouting, 'ticket, ticket’. "When the bus conductor asked 'Kaunsa ticket chahiye?' (Which ticket do you want?) Instead of taking the station's name, Bandra, Santa Cruz or whatever… I said 'Maa' film ka ticket chahiye (I want ticket of 'Maa' film),” he laughed while sharing the memory of his first film.
He never thought that a film can be made on his life, but he is elated that it has happened. The film, directed by James Erskine, featuring him, his wife and fellow cricketers, will showcase many unknown facets of the hugely popular cricketer.
He said that he has mostly been a private person, but over the years, he has realised that his fans want to know about him. “I am a private person but I have learnt to share insights of my life with my fans. I find a middle path where I am comfortable to share and they also get to know about me,” he said.
The film, produced by Ravi Bhagchandka and Shrikant Bhasi of Carnival Motion Pictures, is slated to release on May 26.
