Shekhar Kapur reveals what's stopping him from casting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 'Masoom'
Mumbai, May 31
Padma Bhushan awardee Shekhar Kapur is fascinated with the innocence of India's youngest cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and wants to cast him in his film 'Masoom'. However, there's one limitation. The 15-year old has witnessed a meteoric rise owing to his stellar performance in the game, particularly in IPL.
On Sunday, Shekhar Kapur took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a picture of the cricketer. He also penned a note, as he wrote, "If Sooryavanshi wasn't such a sensational cricketer.. I could have cast him in Masoom the film".
'Masoom: The New Generation' is set to explore evolving ideas of identity, family, love, and migration through a modern lens while retaining the emotional core that made the original film resonate across generations. The film reportedly shall bring together an accomplished ensemble cast featuring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Manoj Bajpayee, Nithya Menen, and Kaveri Kapur. It is currently in pre-production, and is slated to commence production later this year.
Talking about Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the teenage prodigy is a left-handed batter from Bihar, who emerged as one of Indian cricket's most exciting young talents. Playing for the Rajasthan Royals, he made headlines in IPL 2025 by becoming the youngest to score a century in IPL history with a stunning 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans. His century came in just 35 balls, the fastest IPL hundred by an Indian and the second-fastest overall in tournament history.
He also smashed the fastest fifty of IPL 2025, reaching the milestone in 17 balls. Across his debut IPL season, he scored 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate above 200, including one century and one fifty.
Following his breakthrough season in IPL 2025, the cricketer had a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign for the Rajasthan Royals. He finished among the tournament's leading run-scorers, amassing 776 runs at a strike rate above 237, including a century, multiple half-centuries, and a record 72 sixes.
His standout knocks included a 103 off 37 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, a 97 off 29 balls in the Eliminator, and several ultra-fast fifties, including two reached in just 15 balls. Suryavanshi's fearless powerplay batting and consistency made him one of the defining performers of IPL 2026 and a key figure in Rajasthan's playoff run. However, Rajasthan Royals were eliminated from the IPL 2026.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Imagine being a 15-year-old and having legends like Shekhar Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, and Shabana Azmi wanting to work with you. Absolute madness! But I think his cricket career is more promising. IPL mein 776 runs at 237 strike rate? That's god-level stuff.
Honestly, I wish he could do both. We've seen cricketers like Salil Ankola and Sandeep Patil try acting, but timing matters. Vaibhav should wait till he's at least 25, then explore cinema. Right now, he's breaking records that may stand for decades!
Thoda weird lag raha hai ki Shekhar Kapur "innocence" ki baat kar rahe hain. Vaibhav is a cricketer, not a child actor. And 'Masoom' is about complex themes like identity and migration. Caste him just because he looks innocent? Bit of a stretch, no?
Main bolti hoon, dono cheezein possible hain. Vaibhav can take a break from cricket during off-season and shoot for the film. Shekhar Kapur is a master director; working with him would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Indian cinema needs fresh faces!
Shekhar Kapur should focus on making the film first. Casting a cricketer just for the buzz? That's what Bollywood does when they lack confidence in the script. Vaibhav is a gem on the field – let him shine there
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.