: Wednesday, June 30, 2021, 7:00 AM IST 'I plan to make a film with each of the English alphabets,' says Srijit Mukherji, who is helming Mithali Raj biopic The National Award-winning director starts prepping up for the biopic on cricketer Mithali Raj with Taapsee Pannu Over the phone from Kolkata, Srijit Mukherji discusses everything from Shabaash Mithu and a series about Ajit Wadekarâs men to a film with Irrfan Khan that didnât happen. Excerpts from an hour-long conversation: After crime thrillers, adventure dramas and period flicks, how exciting is it to direct a contemporary sports biopic, Shabaash Mithu? When I was working as an economist in Bangalore, on my way to work, Iâd pass the Cricinfo office and tell myself that one day Iâd be a sports journalist. But then, Autograph clicked and I went on to tell more stories. Box office success and the National Awards followed, and I was trapped (Laughs). Iâve always wanted to make a sports biopic. I bought the rights to Swapna Barmanâs story, the heptathlete who won gold in the 2018 Asian Games. Ajit Andhare [COO, Viacom 18 Studio] and Iâve had several discussions with Dada [cricketer Saurav Ganguly] too. These films didnât materialise, but when Ajit offered me the Mithali Raj biopic, I jumped.