Rajkummar Rao’s transformation into former India captain Sourav Ganguly for the upcoming biopic Dada has become the talk of social media. The makers unveiled the film’s first-look poster on Ganguly’s 54th birthday, recreating one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. While many celebrities welcomed the reveal, a section of the internet was far from impressed, with users flooding social media with memes and criticism over the actor’s appearance.

The poster shows Rajkummar recreating Ganguly’s unforgettable shirt-waving celebration from the Lord’s balcony after India’s dramatic victory over England in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final. The moment remains one of the defining images of Ganguly’s cricketing career.

Internet reacts to Rajkummar Rao’s transformation

Soon after the poster was released, reactions poured in across social media platforms. While actors including Ali Fazal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Neha Dhupia and Manushi Chhillar praised the first look, many users questioned whether Rajkummar resembled the former cricketer.

Several social media users criticised the poster’s editing and visual effects, with many comparing it to AI-generated artwork.

One user wrote, “ChatGPT would’ve done a better job.”

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Another commented, “As a Dada fan, this is one of the weakest first looks for a biopic. Even AI could have created something more convincing.”

A third user said, “This doesn’t look like Sourav Ganguly at all. The fan-made posters were much better.”

Others described the poster as looking heavily edited and felt it failed to capture Ganguly’s personality and expressions. Some even questioned whether the released image was an official poster.

First look recreates Lord’s balcony celebration

The poster pays tribute to Ganguly’s iconic celebration following India’s memorable win in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final at Lord’s. After India successfully chased 326 runs against England, Ganguly celebrated by taking off his shirt and waving it from the balcony, an image that has since become one of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket.

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The scene will reportedly feature prominently in the biopic, which traces Ganguly’s rise from one of India’s finest batters to one of its most influential captains.

Ganguly calls it the ‘best birthday gift’

Despite the mixed online response, Sourav Ganguly welcomed the poster with enthusiasm. Sharing it on social media, the former Indian captain called it the “best birthday gift ever” and said he was looking forward to watching Rajkummar Rao portray his journey on the big screen.

Earlier, Ganguly had also expressed confidence in Rajkummar’s casting, saying the actor was well suited to play him.

About Dada

Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg under Luv Films, Dada is based on the life of Sourav Ganguly. The film chronicles his journey from a talented young cricketer to one of India’s most successful captains, whose leadership transformed Indian cricket in the early 2000s.

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Although the first-look poster has sparked debate online, fans are now waiting for the teaser to see Rajkummar Rao in action before passing final judgement on his portrayal of the cricket legend.

FAQs

Why is Rajkummar Rao’s first look as Sourav Ganguly being criticised?

Many social media users felt Rajkummar Rao’s appearance in the Dada first-look poster did not closely resemble Sourav Ganguly.

What is the Dada biopic about?

Dada is a biographical film based on the life of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly.