The life of former star Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli will be presented to viewers not in the format of a feature film, but through a web series. Director Abidjit Deshpande plans to create this Hindi series about Kambli's life. The project is titled 'Kambali' and is preparing for release on the ZEE5 platform.
The series is produced by Ravi Bhagchand from 200 Not Out Productions. This same production company was previously involved with Shahid Tendulkar's documentary 'Sachin: Billion Dream'. Deshpande told TOI that he began working on writing the story of 'Kambali' back in 2019, while simultaneously working on the biography of V. Shantaram.
According to Abidjit Deshpande, the initial idea was to create a Marathi film about Kambli's life. However, as he delved deeper into the former cricketer's life and conducted research, he concluded that the story was too vast for a feature film format.
The director noted that Kambli's life contains enough material and drama that it cannot be contained in a single film. This is why the decision was made to change the project format to a series. Deshpande believes that creating a Hindi series will allow Kambli's story to reach a wider audience. He emphasized that he views this story not only from a cricket perspective but as a fundamental human drama, so 'Kambali' will not be presented merely as a sports film.
The series will show Vinod Kambli's journey—from the moment he became one of India's most talented young players to overcoming numerous difficulties in his career and personal life. The series will focus on Kambli's exceptional talents, his significant achievements in cricket, and the problems that altered the trajectory of his career. The story will not be limited to his performances on the field but will also cover the personal struggles that influenced his life and career.
The director aims for Kambli to be perceived not just through the lens of controversies and headlines, but as a person. Therefore, special attention is paid to presenting different periods of his life with sensitivity and realism.
Casting for the series is not yet complete. The creators are looking for new actors who match not only Vinod Kambli's appearance but also his personality. The director and his team prefer an actor who looks natural in the role rather than attracting a big star. The main priority in this casting is the realistic and empathetic portrayal of Kambli's life on screen.
The exact start date for filming 'Kambali' has not yet been determined, but the creators plan to begin shooting in November 2026. The team intends to complete filming within one continuous schedule. Provided the plan is followed, the series shoot is expected to take about three to four months. After completing the project, Abidjit Deshpande will resume work on the biography of V. Shantaram.
