Lalit Modi’s extraordinary rise through Indian cricket, the creation of the IPL and the controversies that followed are now heading toward the big screen. A new report says producer Sajid Nadiadwala is developing a big-budget Bollywood biopic on the former IPL chairman under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, with writer-producer Sneha Rajani involved in the writing and development process. The project is still taking shape, so the director, lead actor, release date and other major details have not been announced yet.
The timing is particularly interesting because Modi himself had already confirmed earlier this year that a biopic was being scripted. In an interview with ANI reported by The Indian Express in June, he said the project was still in the writing stage and that a team under Sneha Rajani was working on it. He also revealed that Ranveer Singh had previously met him in London and expressed interest in playing him.
Sajid Nadiadwala Takes On Lalit Modi’s Story
According to Pinkvilla’s September 18 report, Sajid Nadiadwala is backing the film through Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The project is currently in the writing and development stage, with the makers apparently focused on getting the story into shape before deciding how and when to take it forward. Given the scale of Modi’s career and the number of different phases involved, the film has plenty of material to work with.
A source quoted by Pinkvilla said, “Lalit Modi’s life has so many different chapters that there is a lot to explore…idea is to tell the story on big screen while also getting into the man behind the headlines. Writing and development are currently being worked on, and the makers want to get the story right before taking it forward.”
That approach could make the project considerably broader than a straightforward IPL origin story. Modi’s public profile was built around cricket administration and business, but his journey also included periods of intense media attention and controversy. A film covering those different chapters would have to move between the creation of a sporting property, his rise in influence and the events that eventually changed his position in Indian cricket.
Sneha Rajani’s involvement is another important piece of the development process. Modi himself previously identified Rajani as the person leading the team working on the screenplay, meaning her connection to the project predates the latest report about Nadiadwala’s involvement.
What Lalit Modi’s Biopic Could Explore
For a Bollywood biopic, Modi’s story has an unusually cinematic structure because the IPL itself provides a natural central chapter. He served as the league’s founding chairman and played a major role in establishing the tournament, which went on to become one of the most commercially significant properties in global cricket. His career therefore sits at the intersection of sport, entertainment, broadcasting, business and celebrity culture.
But an IPL-focused film would only cover part of the story. Modi’s rise involved several other business and sporting ventures, while his later years in cricket administration were accompanied by investigations, disputes and sustained media scrutiny. Those contrasting chapters could give the screenplay a rise-and-fall structure, although exactly how the filmmakers will portray them remains unknown at this stage.
The challenge will be balancing the public figure with the private individual. That is particularly relevant because the latest report says the makers want to explore the person behind the headlines rather than simply recreate the most famous episodes from his career.
A project of this scale will also need to establish its point of view. Biopics involving controversial public figures can become complicated when real events, competing accounts and dramatic storytelling overlap. Since the film is still being scripted, there is currently no indication of which incidents will receive the most attention or how the screenplay will frame the various controversies surrounding Modi.
Is Ranveer Singh Playing Lalit Modi?
Ranveer Singh’s name has already entered the conversation around the proposed biopic, but his casting should not be treated as confirmed. In June 2026, Lalit Modi told The Indian Express that Ranveer had met him in London and expressed a desire to portray him in a film. Modi recalled the actor saying, “He (Ranveer) said in his life, if there was one role he wanted to play, it would be Lalit Modi as commissioner.”
Modi also made it clear that he did not know whether Ranveer still wanted the role, particularly because the actor’s career had developed considerably since their meeting. That means the connection is real and comes directly from Modi, but it does not amount to an official casting announcement from Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment or Ranveer Singh.
For now, the film’s lead actor remains unannounced. The same applies to the director, supporting cast, production timeline and theatrical release date. Those details are likely to become clearer only after the screenplay and development process moves further ahead.
The Ranveer angle nevertheless gives the project an additional layer of curiosity. His reported interest dates back to before the latest announcement about Nadiadwala’s involvement, so the question of whether that earlier conversation eventually develops into formal casting is something audiences will naturally watch as the project progresses.
A Big-Screen Story With Plenty of Material
The proposed biopic arrives at an interesting point for sports-based Bollywood storytelling. Cricket has repeatedly provided filmmakers with stories that combine personal ambition, sporting success and public pressure, but Modi’s journey offers a different perspective because he was operating primarily behind the scenes rather than as a player.
The IPL itself changed the relationship between cricket, television, entertainment and celebrity culture in India. Modi became one of the most recognisable administrators associated with that transformation, making the league’s early years an obvious cinematic starting point for his story. At the same time, focusing exclusively on the IPL could leave out the other personal and professional chapters that the current development reportedly intends to explore.
There is also a natural contrast between Modi’s rapid rise and the controversies that later dominated coverage of his career. That combination gives a screenplay several potential turning points without requiring the filmmakers to manufacture drama. The bigger question is whether the eventual film can bring enough nuance to those events while still delivering the scale expected from a major Bollywood biopic.
For now, though, it is best viewed as a project in development rather than a film close to production. Nadiadwala is reportedly backing it, Rajani is involved in its development, and Modi has previously confirmed that his life story was being scripted. Everything beyond those points, including the casting and release plans, remains open.
Lalit Modi Biopic FAQs
Is a Lalit Modi biopic being made?
Yes. A biopic based on Lalit Modi’s life is reportedly in development, with Sajid Nadiadwala backing the project and Sneha Rajani involved in the writing and development process.
Who will produce the Lalit Modi biopic?
The film is being backed by Sajid Nadiadwala under his production banner, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.
Is Ranveer Singh confirmed to play Lalit Modi?
No. Ranveer Singh has not been officially confirmed for the role. Lalit Modi previously said that Ranveer had expressed interest in portraying him and had met him in London to discuss the possibility.
Who is writing the Lalit Modi biopic?
Writer-producer Sneha Rajani is involved in the writing and development process. Modi previously said that a team under Rajani was working on the script.
What will the Lalit Modi biopic be about?
The film is expected to explore different phases of Modi’s life, including his role in the development of the IPL, his professional rise and the controversies that became part of his public story. The final scope of the screenplay has not been announced.
When will the Lalit Modi biopic release?
There is currently no announced release date. The project is still in the writing and development stage, with the director and final cast yet to be revealed.
