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Thursday, 26 April, 2001, 17:33 GMT 18:33 UK
Cricket's celluloid star
Ajay Jadeja and Sunil Shetty
Jadeja (l) discusses his role with Sunil Shetty
Banned India Test cricketer Ajay Jadeja is to star in a Bollywood action film.

The 30-year-old, who was suspended for five years for his alleged role in match-fixing, will be a co-star in an as yet untitled movie.

"Since it is my debut flim, I wanted to make sure I get a good role and was very careful while choosing this movie," he said at the ceremonial launch of the movie on Thursday.

He was banned from the game last year by the Board for Control of Cricket in India, after an investigation into corruption in cricket.


He has charm and charisma. I have seen him in advertisements and feel he has the necessary screen presence
  Yusuf Khan
Movie director
But the batsman who played 15 Test said he still harboured hopes of playing cricket again: "Cricket has been my first love and will always be so."

The movie will be filmed in Bombay and will star India's equivalent of Hollywood action hero Bruce Willis - Sunil Shetty.

Jadeja revealed his role will not require him to act too much.

"I am playing a character who behaves and talks the way I do in real life although I had to learn quite a bit while preparing for the role.

"Most people who come to films have undergone acting classes ... but in my case I have to start from the beginning and have a lot to learn," Jadeja said.

Jadeja has acted in commercials in the past and director Yusuf Khan he was well-suited to the role.

"He has charm and charisma. I have seen him in advertisements and feel he has the necessary screen presence," said Khan.

Jadeja is not the first Indian cricketer to make the foray into acting, as Sunil Gavaskar, Salim Durani and Sandeep Patil have all featured in Bollywood Hindi films.

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See also:

25 Apr 01 |  Cricket
Government stands by ban
24 Apr 01 |  Cricket
India threaten one-day boycott
28 Mar 01 |  South Asia
Bollywood star in dress row
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