Seven months of sweat, no sign of release: What’s happening with Anushka Sharma’s Chakda ‘Xpress? Find out

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The return of Anushka Sharma in the biographical film ‘Chakda ‘Xpress’, which tells the story of cricket legend Jhulan Goswami, is still uncertain. Originally planned for release on Netflix in October 2023 through their partnership with Clean Slate Filmz, the project has not yet been seen, keeping it in a puzzling state of delay.

Directed by Prosit Roy and written by Abhishek Banerjee, this movie aimed to break free from the conventional sports biopic format. Unfortunately, despite being almost ready for release, its premiere has been indefinitely postponed after the partnership between Clean Slate Filmz and Netflix came to an end.

The cinematic voyage of Chakda ‘Xpress, the eagerly awaited biopic about cricket icon Jhulan Goswami, has encountered various challenges. This movie, penned by Abhishek Banerjee and helmed by Prosit Roy, aims to portray not only Goswami’s sporting victories, but also her intelligence, determination, and adaptability.

Originally slated for filming in April 2020, the production had to be postponed due to several factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, Anushka’s pregnancy, a producer leaving, and Roy being involved with another project, Paatal Lok, at the same time.

Eventually, I was thrilled when Netflix decided to bring the movie to an online streaming audience, crafting a condensed three-act narrative while maintaining its unique storytelling flair. Post my maternity leave, I dedicated over seven months to rigorous training to fully embody the character I was portraying.

Filmmaker Pratik Shah opted for a more personal, engaging visual style by employing handheld camera methods. Additionally, the movie incorporated meta elements such as instances where Jhulan Goswami directly addresses the audience, sharing insights about her own experiences and the challenges faced by women’s cricket.

Despite the fact that Netflix unveiled a sneak peek for Chakda ‘Xpress, it’s essential to note that this wasn’t the actual movie but rather a trial video shot before the pandemic, thus not representing the final product.

Manas Mittal, our editor, mentioned that the project deviated from traditional sports drama templates by recording footage at actual stadiums in India and the UK during a demanding 62-day shooting period. However, the movie is nearly completed but remains unseen, stuck in a state of uncertainty due to complications originating externally.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chakda ‘Xpress was almost finished when it was put on hold, requiring just a few visual effects (VFX) shots to be completed.

After the separation of Netflix and Clean Slate Filmz, it’s unclear when the movie will be released due to reported creative differences and financial constraints. There have been whispers about these issues causing a delay, but no official announcement has been given yet.

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2025-05-12 20:07