A film is being made on the life of Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi. According to a report by Pinkvilla, Sajid Nadiadwala will produce the biopic under his banner, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.
Former television executive and producer Sneha Rajani is writing the film’s script. The film will be based on Lalit Modi’s early life, the launch of the IPL, his success and the controversies that later surrounded him.
Some time ago, Ranveer Singh expressed interest in playing Lalit’s role. In an interview with news agency ANI, Lalit Modi also confirmed that Ranveer wanted to play him. Lalit has been living in London for around 16 years.
In an interview with ANI, Lalit Modi had said that Ranveer wanted to play his role.
Ranveer Singh travelled to London to meet him
Rather than focusing only on Lalit Modi’s headlines and controversies, the makers want to show different aspects of his personal life and career in the biopic. The film’s writing and development are still under way. Speaking to ANI, Lalit Modi had said that a team led by Sneha Rajani had already conducted dozens of interviews with him.
Sajid Nadiadwala will produce this biopic under his banner, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.
He had also revealed that a few years ago, actor Ranveer Singh had travelled to London to meet him and expressed his desire to play Lalit Modi in the biopic. However, there has been no official announcement regarding the star cast or director yet.
Lalit Modi had claimed that a few years ago, actor Ranveer Singh had travelled to London to meet him
IPL begins in 2008, Kochi franchise controversy
- Lalit Modi is known for bringing Indian cricket, business and entertainment together. In 2008, while serving as the BCCI vice-president, he introduced the concept of the franchise-based T20 cricket league, the IPL.
- He became its first chairman and commissioner. The IPL soon became one of the world’s biggest sports leagues. However, a controversy arose in 2010 over the shareholding of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise.
- Lalit Modi disclosed Sunanda Pushkar’s ‘sweat equity’ shares on social media, following which Shashi Tharoor, then a Union minister, had to resign from his post.
How Lalit Modi brought the IPL to India
Lalit Modi, who was born into a prominent business family in Delhi, completed his engineering studies in the US. He then returned to India, where he saw that people were deeply passionate about cricket. Inspired by sports in the US, Lalit thought of starting the IPL in India. After becoming a member of the Himachal, Rajasthan and Punjab cricket associations, Lalit began working on the IPL plan with the BCCI.
Lalit Modi embroiled in IPL controversy; BCCI had levelled 22 allegations against him
- When launching the IPL, Lalit Modi secured stakes in the league for several members of his family. As soon as the IPL was launched in 2008, the league became a major hit, earning Lalit widespread praise.
- The IPL also began benefiting players and the BCCI. Some time later, information about the IPL and Lalit’s personal interests came to light, and he was removed as BCCI vice-president after the 2010 IPL final.
- According to reports, the BCCI levelled 22 charges against Lalit Modi, including awarding contracts to his family, using the IPL’s broadcasting rights for his own benefit and rigging the auction.
ED investigation, going abroad and the ‘Lalitgate’ controversy
- In 2010, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) began investigating violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) during the IPL held in South Africa in 2009. Amid the ED issuing summonses, Lalit Modi left India and moved to London. A Blue Corner Notice was subsequently issued against him.
- In 2015, the case turned into a major political controversy when leaked documents revealed that then Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had helped Lalit Modi obtain UK travel documents despite his passport having been revoked. The entire episode was dubbed “Lalitgate” by the media.
Lalit Modi married Minal, who was nine years older than him, in 1991.
Married his mother’s friend
Lalit fell in love with his mother’s friend, Minal, while studying abroad. Minal was nine years older than Lalit, but despite this, the closeness between Modi and Minal began to grow. Minal was set to marry Nigerian businessman Jack Sagarani. Just before the wedding, Lalit confessed his love to Minal, which angered her. She stopped speaking to Modi for four years.
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