EXCLUSIVE: “If there is a film that could pull the audience to the big screens again it would be a film like ‘83”- Adinath Kothare who plays Dilip Vengsarkar in Kabir Khan’s ‘83

By Athulya Nambiar -

August 12, 2021 - 2:41 PM IST

Actor, director, and producer Adinath Kothare who works in Hindi and Marathi cinema and web series, was last seen in Disney+Hotstar's City of Dreams season 2. He is also part of the much-awaited Kabir Khan directorial '83, which tells the story of the 1983 World cup winning Indian cricket team. Starring Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev, the film will see Adinath as Dilip Vengsarkar. While the audience awaits the release of the film, Bollywood Hungama recently spoke to Adinath who spoke about shooting for '83, forming chemistry with the team, and why the film is an absolute theatrical experience.

EXCLUSIVE: “If there is a film that could pull the audience to the big screens again it would be a film like ‘83”- Adinath Kothare who plays Dilip Vengsarkar in Kabir Khan’s ‘83

'83 was scheduled for release in 2020. However, the film has been delayed due to the pandemic as the makers are waiting for theatres to reopen in India. But the memories of shooting for '83 are still fresh in the mind of actor Adinath. "It was a surreal experience. All these guys are legends, they are big. I knew I was going on a set where all these biggies are going to be there like Kabir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ammy Virk, Saqib Saleem, Hardy Sandhu, and Tahir Bhasin, Jeeva from South. But when we were on the set it was as if we were all friends. It was so amazing and it took me a moment to realise that. Sometimes, I would step back and just observe like, 'Wow! I am here right now amongst all these amazing people and they are so easy to talk to, they are so humble, they are so down to earth that you are not feeling the magnanimity of the moment'. It was beautiful."

"The most amazing part that Kabir sir cracked for ‘83 was the chemistry. '83 is the story of these young boys who go and win the world cup in 1983. So it is the story of that team and getting that team spirit was most important. For that, you needed that chemistry, that camaraderie, that's what he(Kabir Khan) managed to recreate with all of us. All of us, 11-13 boys, were like a gang and we got along so well. From Ranveer to everyone, it was so amazing, positive, warm, helpful, supportive. It was commendable. We had a blast. It was like a four-month vacation in the UK. We were shooting for '83 with these people. Today we miss every moment of that. It's crazy. We have a Whatsapp group where we keep sharing jokes and everything. It’s just beautiful that these guys are so easy to be with and talk to," he added.

Adinath also spoke about how they had workshops before the film went on the floor for team bonding. "Before we went on the floor for the shoot, we had gone for a Bootcamp to Himachal. That was the first time we interacted and we all were together for the first time. We were there for a 10-day boot camp in Himachal and then we went to Mcleodganj. We were being trained by the legends. We were being trained by Balwinder Singh Sandhu, we had Kapil Dev amongst us, we had Mohinder Amarnath, Dilip Vengsarkar and Kirmani sir. All these people were coming on the sets to help us out, to support us. We were sitting and chatting with them and communicating with them. I think someone of my generation would never have got to interact with these Gods of cricket had it not been for the film. It is really rare," he revealed.

Adinath also recalled how the team supported and celebrated him when he won the National Award for his debut directorial Paani. "I was shooting for ‘83 when the National award was announced. And I was really overwhelmed by the appreciation and the love that was showered on me by my team itself. Kabir sir called me and said that we are proud to have you as apart of ‘83. It is so validating. It’s reassuring. Ranveer gave me a tight hug and he was like ‘so proud of you’. Even his film had won the national award. I think Padmaavat won that year. I think we all live to be appreciated as an artist. When you get that appreciation, that is what you thrive on, that is what you live for. That gives you an impetus to strive better. That is what it exactly does," he recalled.

As for the release of the film, ‘83 has been a long wait. While talking about the year gone by and hoping for a better future, Adinath said, "I think the past year has definitely taught us to be patient with each and everyone especially an artist. We are hoping things will open up and I am sure they will. Things are improving and things are getting better and hopefully, by this year-end something good should happen. But ‘83 has to be a theatrical experience, that is what everyone says. I think when theatres do open and if there is a film that could pull the audience to the big screens again it would be a film like ‘83. I am really fortunate to be a part of it."