By Arjun Sandhu Indian sports journalist

There are very few top sportsmen who can also claim to have starred in a major film.

Jadeja's first film, Khel, is released this week

Former Indian Test batsman Ajay Jadeja appeared in two movies after he was banned from the game following a match-fixing inquiry.

But despite gaining a taste of the Bollywood high life, he is now itching to return to his previous profession, having been cleared to play domestic cricket again.

"I've finished shooting and I can now concentrate on cricket," said Jadeja.

"Cricket's my first love and it will remain so, it's the passion of my life."

"The actual heroes are the ones out in the cricket field. Out there you don't have the luxury of re-takes to perfect your shots like in the films."

The 32-year-old's first film Khel - the Hindi word for 'game' - is a romantic thriller in which India's former one-day captain is accused of a murder.

It is released this week and tasters of Jadeja's singing and dancing sequences have been screened on entertainment and film channels.

This was a thrilling experience - but I'd rather be playing cricket Ajay Jadeja

Produced by Jadeja's friend Sunil Shetty, the film's other stars are Sunny Deol and former Miss India, Celina Jetlie.

"The only reason I signed up for the movies was because I wasn't playing due of the ban," Jadeja explained.

"The film-making experience was an education - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I'd never been involved in dramatics or had much interest in theatre but I was used to the camera and lights, having done some advertising films."

It was not the first time that Bombay's Hindi film industry had shown an interest in Jadeja.

There was a film planned in 1997, when he was still in the Indian team but he did not have time to complete the project.

After almost three years in which he has played only social games, and fought a lengthy legal battle, Jadeja is now preparing for the upcoming first-class season.

JADEJA FACTFILE Born: Jamnagar 1.2.71 Test debut: v South Africa, Durban 1992 Highest Test score: 96 v West Indies, St John's 1997 ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Mackay 1992 Highest ODI score: 119 v Sri Lanka, Colombo 1997 (one of six ODI 100s)

"I've been missing cricket. That's all I wanted to do since I was a child," he said.

"In cricketing terms, I might have been down for a while, but I'm not out yet.

"I've never really been away from the game, it was always on my mind."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is contesting the award by an arbitrator, appointed by the Delhi High Court, setting aside the five-year ban on.

But Jadeja says he has not allowed the continuing court battle to play on his mind.

"Right now it's between my lawyers and those representing the Board," he said. "I've been busy practicing in the nets.

"In fact, I never gave up practicing my strokes, but wasn't doing it as seriously as I'm doing right now preparing for the Ranji season."

Jadeja will return to the Jammu and Kashmir side he last represented in the first-class Ranji Trophy three summers ago.

"Nothing's going to match the excitement of getting back to the competitive cricketing field," he said.

"I don't think I'm up for signing any movies at this moment, but one can't make sweeping predictions for the future.

"This was a thrilling experience, but I'd rather be playing cricket."