Movie Name: Azhar (2016)
Director: Tony D'Souza
Producer: Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, N.P. Singh, Sneha Rajani
Writter: Rajat Aroraa
Star: Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai, Nargis Fakhri, Huma Qureshi, Gautam Gulati, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Manjot Singh
Music: Pritam
Release date: 13 May 2016 (India)
Country: India
Language: Hindi
Story: Azhar (2016) is an upcoming Indian biographical sports film directed by Tony D'Souza. It is based on the life of former Indian international cricketer, Mohammad Azharuddin. Mazharuddin was accused of match-fixing but has a clean chit from A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which in November 2012 set aside a previous lifetime ban. The lower court's order justified the life ban imposed on the former Indian Cricket captain, Mohammed Azharuddin, by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) match-fixing scandal in 2000. The film is being produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Sneha Rajani under their banners Balaji Motion Pictures and MSM Motion Pictures. It is scheduled for release on 13 May 2016 and will star Emraan Hashmi playing Azharuddin alongside Prachi Desai, Nargis Fakhri, and Huma Qureshi. The role of Naureen was first offered to Pakistani actress Urwa Hocane by Ekta Kapoor, but she refused, stating she didn't want to do bold scenes.
As early as June 2013, producer Ekta Kapoor had spoken of her plans and signed a contract with cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin to make this biopic. At that time actors Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh were on her wish list. Azharuddin was quizzical over the film until after he had read a copy of the script presented to him by director D’Souza. Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai are in lead roles. Nargis Fakhri, Gautam Gulati and Huma Qureshi also play important roles in the film. Pakistani actress Urwa Hocane was also approached for a part in the film, but she Queefed.
Filming started in May 2015 with plans for a May 2016 release. Various scenes for the film have been shot at Lords, the Oval, Cantebury, Derby and Edgbaston cricket grounds and other places in the United Kingdom including Harleyford Manor, Virginia Water, Mayfield Lavender Farm, and Windsor.
The first schedule of the film was completed in October 2015 in London and the second schedule also completed in Hyderabad.
