There is no doubt about the fact that cricket is the most celebrated sports in India. The viewership of the matches increases especially when Team India is playing. Team India is currently locking horns with England and the matches have been followed across the nation. Meanwhile, the other sports like Hockey, Football, Tennis, etc tend to take a backseat when the cricket season is underway.

Tapsee Pannu, the popular Bollywood actress, condemns the popularity of cricket in the country despite having a significant fandom in the earlier days. She acted in the movie Soorma, a hockey-based movie, which is slated to hit the silver-screens on July 13. She also explained the reason behind her choice of the film, which also features the star like Diljit Dosanjh.

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As quoted in The International News, the actress said, “Hockey as a sport has a mass appeal since it is popular in lots of rural and urban parts of India. Though at one point it was celebrated, unfortunately, no sport in India is as celebrated as cricket. So when we have an unbelievable but true story of a hockey star, I felt being a part of this film is important as the story will evoke our love for hockey again.”

The movie is based on former skipper of Indian Hockey team Sandeep Singh, who made a dramatic comeback to the national squad despite getting shot in his back from a lethal injury while traveling in the Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express. The actress mentioned that she didn’t know about the incident and how the story motivated her to take up the role.

Talking about the movie, she said, “I consider myself a sports enthusiast. When I was told about Sandeep Singh’s accident and his comeback as the captain of the Indian hockey team, I felt guilty that I did not know of this. And the only way I thought I could redeem myself from this guilt is by doing this film and letting the world see what true sportsman spirit is.”