Rajkummar Rao has addressed the social media criticism around the first-look poster of Dada, the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. The actor told Mashable India that the team behind the poster has taken the response on board, and that there is no urgency to rush another reveal.
“The ones who made the poster have understood, they have learnt their lesson. They have understood they need to take their time and not rush things; there’s no hurry.”
Rajkummar also acknowledged the scale of the fandom attached to the former India captain, saying the team now understands that “Dada’s fan following is crazy.”
A birthday reveal that split viewers
The poster was unveiled on July 8, timed to Sourav Ganguly’s birthday. It recreated one of his most famous cricket images: the shirtless celebration at Lord’s after India won the 2002 NatWest Trophy final, waving the India jersey. On social media, the response was mixed, with many questioning the visual execution. Ganguly himself, however, called the poster “the best gift ever.”
That disconnect, fan criticism on one side and the subject’s warm approval on the other, is not unusual for a sports biopic. A poster is often the first production asset an audience judges, and for someone as loved as Ganguly, the scrutiny starts early.
Going past the look
Rajkummar made clear his preparation for Dada goes beyond recreating a famous moment. He said he has met Ganguly many times, shot at his home and at Eden Gardens, and spent time with him in Kolkata. Some conversations touched on personal matters he will not reveal, because they helped him understand the person behind the public image.
He also described Ganguly’s impact on Indian cricket as foundational. “We all love him; he’s a legend. He laid the foundation for what the Indian team is today,” he said.
- The poster: released July 8, on Ganguly’s birthday.
- The moment: the Lord’s shirtless celebration from the 2002 NatWest Trophy final.
- The response: mixed online, but Ganguly called it “the best gift ever.”
- What’s next: Rajkummar’s Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story opens October 16.
What to watch while waiting for Dada
There is no new Dada release date in this update. Moviegoers can next see Rajkummar in Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. The courtroom drama also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Lalit Prabhakar, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sikandar Kher.
For now, the Dada team has signalled that the next look will arrive when it is ready. For a project built around a figure with such an intense following, that measured approach may be the right lesson to take from a poster that divided the internet.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com