One of Indian cricket’s most unforgettable celebrations has now found its way onto the big screen. The makers of Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story have officially unveiled the first-look poster of the much-awaited biopic, giving fans their first glimpse of Rajkummar Rao as the former India captain. Released on Wednesday to mark Sourav Ganguly’s birthday, the poster revisits a moment that continues to hold a special place in the hearts of cricket lovers more than two decades later. Soon after its release, the first look sparked excitement online while also dividing opinion over Rajkummar’s transformation.
The poster arrives just days after videos from the film’s shoot surfaced on social media, offering an early look at Rajkummar filming key sequences. Those clips had already generated curiosity about how the actor would portray one of Indian cricket’s most influential captains. Now, with the official first look finally out, the makers have chosen to recreate arguably the defining image of Ganguly’s cricketing career. Rather than revealing multiple aspects of his journey, they have focused on a single celebration that instantly resonates with fans.
Rajkummar Rao Recreates Lord’s Balcony Celebration
The first poster captures the historic scene from the 2002 NatWest Series final at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. After India chased down England’s target in a thrilling two-wicket victory, Sourav Ganguly famously removed his jersey and waved it from the Lord’s balcony in a celebration that became part of Indian cricket folklore. The gesture was widely seen as a response to England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who had celebrated shirtless at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium during an earlier series between the two teams. Even today, the image remains one of the most replayed moments in Indian cricket history.
Rajkummar Rao steps into that iconic frame by standing on the famous Lord’s balcony with his jersey raised high while the Indian tricolour flies proudly behind him. His expression reflects the emotion, aggression and joy that defined Ganguly’s celebration on that memorable evening. The poster focuses on recreating the spirit of the original moment rather than revealing much about the rest of the film. For longtime cricket followers, it serves as an instant reminder of an era when Ganguly helped reshape Indian cricket with fearless leadership.
Fans Divided Over Rajkummar Rao’s Transformation
Rajkummar also shared the poster through his Instagram Stories while wishing Ganguly on his birthday. His message read, “Happy Birthday our dearest Dada. @souravganguly #Dada #DadaTheSouravGangulyStory.” The birthday tribute quickly gained attention as fans began discussing the actor’s look and the film’s first promotional material across social media.
Reactions, however, have been mixed. Some viewers questioned whether Rajkummar physically resembles the former cricketer, with one user commenting, “He is not even remotely looking like Ganguly.” Another asked, “Is this AI generated?” Others strongly supported the casting, with one fan writing, “There can’t be a better actor Than Rajkummar to do this role.” Another enthusiastic comment read, “Bhai after seeing Rajkummar Rao’s transformation it seems he can play any role in the world😂 Seeing that iconic scene of him taking off his Tshirt on the Lord’s balcony on the poster brought back old memories. Super excited🏏🔥”
The biopic is directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg, with presentation by Gulshan Kumar, Bhushan Kumar, T-Series and DBL. Backed by Luv Films, the project aims to chronicle the remarkable journey of Sourav Ganguly, who transformed the Indian cricket team with his aggressive captaincy and fearless approach during the early 2000s. Ganguly remains one of India’s most successful captains, having led the national side through a significant rebuilding phase while nurturing several future stars. Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story is currently scheduled to arrive in theatres on May 14, 2027, during the extended Eid holiday weekend.
