These are unusual times for fans of Rajkummar Rao and cricket in cinema. In his recent release, the biographical drama “Srikanth,” Rao portrays a visually-impaired man who forgoes his cricket dreams to pursue higher education abroad. “Education is more important to me, not cricket,” he declares. Shortly after, Rao returns in “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,” playing a cricket-obsessed character named Mahendra. “For me, cricket is life; life is cricket,” Mahendra insists, despite cricket slipping away from him.
Directed by Sharan Sharma, the film starts in Jaipur in 2017, showcasing Mahendra’s struggle in local club tournaments as he aims for a spot on the state team. His father, portrayed by an irritable yet effective Kumud Mishra, runs a sports shop and gives Mahendra an ultimatum: make progress towards representing India or join the family business. Mahendra gets close, using cunning and excessive effort on the pitch, but narrowly misses his chance. Eventually, he is grounded and marries Mahima, a kind and trusting doctor played by Janhvi Kapoor. She is drawn to his ‘honesty,’ marking the second consecutive role for Kapoor where her character makes a questionable marriage decision, following “Bawaal” (2023).
Rajkummar Rao’s recent cinematic ventures have been quite the rollercoaster for his fans, especially those who also follow cricket. In the biographical drama “Srikanth,” Rao plays a visually-impaired man who decides to abandon his promising cricket career to pursue higher education abroad. This character prioritizes education over cricket, stating, “Education is more important to me, not cricket.” Just three weeks later, Rao appears in “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,” taking on the role of Mahendra, a man completely obsessed with cricket. Mahendra’s mantra is, “For me, cricket is life; life is cricket,” although his dedication doesn’t guarantee success.
The film “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,” directed by Sharan Sharma, begins in Jaipur in 2017. Mahendra is deeply involved in local club cricket tournaments, striving to secure a position on the state team. His father, played convincingly by Kumud Mishra, owns a sports shop and pressures Mahendra to either succeed in cricket or join the family business. Mahendra comes tantalizingly close to achieving his dream, maneuvering cleverly on the field but ultimately falling short. This failure leads to his permanent grounding, and he eventually marries Mahima, portrayed by Janhvi Kapoor. Mahima is a doctor who admires Mahendra’s perceived honesty, even though this is the second time Kapoor’s character makes a questionable marital choice, following her role in “Bawaal” (2023).
Rajkummar Rao’s fans are experiencing a unique phase in his career, marked by his recent films’ diverse themes centered around cricket. In “Srikanth,” a biographical drama, Rao plays a visually-impaired character who abandons his cricketing aspirations to pursue further studies abroad. His character emphasizes the importance of education over cricket, saying, “Education is more important to me, not cricket.” However, Rao quickly shifts gears, starring in “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi” just three weeks later. Here, he plays Mahendra, a man whose life revolves entirely around cricket. Mahendra’s motto is, “For me, cricket is life; life is cricket,” despite cricket often eluding him.
The narrative of “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,” directed by Sharan Sharma, unfolds in Jaipur in 2017. Mahendra is seen participating in local club tournaments, desperately trying to secure a spot on the state team. His father, an irritable yet persuasive figure played by Kumud Mishra, runs a sports shop and delivers an ultimatum to Mahendra: achieve success in cricket or join the family business. Mahendra’s attempts are close but ultimately unsuccessful, as he narrowly misses his opportunity. As a result, he is grounded and eventually marries Mahima, a trusting and kind-hearted doctor played by Janhvi Kapoor. Mahima is attracted to Mahendra’s perceived honesty, making this the second time Kapoor’s character makes an ill-advised marital choice, following her role in “Bawaal” (2023).
The recent cinematic journey of Rajkummar Rao has been quite intriguing for his followers, especially those interested in cricket. In the biographical drama “Srikanth,” Rao portrays a visually-impaired man who chooses to leave his cricket dreams behind to pursue higher education abroad. His character underscores the value of education over cricket, asserting, “Education is more important to me, not cricket.” In stark contrast, Rao’s next role in “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi,” released just three weeks later, sees him as Mahendra, a cricket fanatic. Mahendra lives by the philosophy, “For me, cricket is life; life is cricket,” even though cricket often slips through his fingers.
Directed by Sharan Sharma, “Mr. and Mrs. Mahi” begins in Jaipur in 2017. Mahendra is deeply engrossed in local club cricket tournaments, striving to earn a place on the state team. His father, portrayed by Kumud Mishra in an irritable yet effective manner, owns a sports shop and sets an ultimatum: either succeed in cricket or join the family business. Mahendra gets close to his goal, using clever and overzealous tactics on the field, but ultimately falls short. Consequently, he is grounded and eventually marries Mahima, a sweet and trusting doctor played by Janhvi Kapoor. Mahima falls for Mahendra’s supposed honesty, marking this as the second time Kapoor’s character makes a questionable marital decision, following her role in “Bawaal” (2023).