Anushka Sharma’s Chakda Xpress in trouble? Jhulan Goswami reveals the truth on her biopic

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The biographical drama ‘Chakda ‘Xpress’, chronicling the inspiring journey of legendary Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami, which was set to mark Bollywood star Anushka Sharma‘s return to acting after her 2018 film ‘Zero’, has faced an indefinite delay.

Originally slated for an October 2023 release on Netflix, the project is now effectively shelved, leaving both eager fans and followers of Indian cricket deeply disappointed. The delay is particularly disheartening given the cultural significance of Goswami’s story in the landscape of Indian sports.

Adding to the prevailing uncertainty, Jhulan herself recently spoke out about the film’s status in an interview with Hindustan Times. She admitted to a lack of clear information, stating, “Mereko aisa koi news nahi hai aur call mujhe kar rahe sab” (I don’t have any such news, but people are calling me). Goswami further conveyed her reluctance to comment on the delay, indicating that even the central figure of the biopic remains in the dark regarding its future. According to various media reports, the primary reason behind the film’s prolonged stall is believed to be a significant fallout between the streaming giant Netflix and Anushka’s production house, Clean Slate Filmz.

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Directed by Prosit Roy and written by Abhishek Banerjee, ‘Chakda ‘Xpress’ was conceived as much more than a standard sports story. The vision aimed for a compelling and gritty portrayal of the immense challenges faced by a woman carving out a career in Indian cricket. To ensure authenticity, Anushka underwent extensive and intense training for over seven months, resuming rigorous physical preparation after her maternity break. An earlier teaser released by Netflix was revealed to be merely a pre-pandemic look test, not representative of the final film. The indefinite delay is all the more frustrating considering the dedication poured into its preparation and the powerful, unique narrative it intended to bring to the screen.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.