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Jadeja, Ankola, Kambli: These 21 sports stars went the filmy way!
Many sports stars have forayed into the world of cinema and tried their hand at acting. While some of them have managed to make a certain mark for themselves, others have failed. On former Pakistan cricketer Mohsin Khan`s birthday, let`s take a look at some international sports players who also acted in films
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Many sports stars have forayed into the world of cinema and tried their hand at acting. While some of them have managed to make a certain mark for themselves, others have failed. On former Pakistan cricketer Mohsin Khan`s birthday, let`s take a look at some international sports players who also acted in films
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Mohsin Khan: A flamboyant opener, Mohsin Khan was the first Pakistani batsman to score a Test double-century at Lord`s. He quit his international cricket career to pursue acting. He debuted with JP Dutta`s Batwara and later went on to star in movies like Saathi, Fateh, Madam X, Laat Saab, Mahaanta, Gunehgar Kaun and others (With Sangeeta Bijlanni. Picture Courtesy/ YouTube)
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Ajay Jadeja: This Saurashtra all-rounder, who left cricket after getting embroiled in a match-fixing controversy, made his foray into Bollywood with Khel alongside Sunil Shetty, Celina Jaitly and Sunny Deol. He also acted in the 2009 movie Pal Pal Dil Ke Saat. He was part of a couple of TV shows as well. He was a contestant on the celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and TV show Comedy Circus. He was also roped in for a special appearance in Abhishek Kapoor`s `Kai Po Che`. (With Celina Jaitly. Picture Courtesy/ YouTube)
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Salil Ankola: Ankola made his Test debut in the same match as Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis in Pakistan in 1989. This was, unfortunately, the first and last Test match he played. After retiring from cricket, Ankola made his celluloid debut in 2000 with the Sanjay Dutt-starrer Kurukshetra. He also acted in movies like Pitaah and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne, which saw the debut of Esha Deol and Zayed Khan. In 2004, he did his last film, `Silence Please...The Dressing Room.` He then shifted focus to his television career acting in serials like Karam Apna Apna, CID Special Bureau, Ssshhhh...Koi Hai, Zindagi Teri Meri Kahani, Kehta Hai Dil, Kora Kaagaz, etc (With Esha Deol. Picture Courtesy/ YouTube)
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Brett Lee: The former Australian fast bowler is regarded as one of the greatest pacers of his time. He is also recognised as one of the two fastest bowlers in the world in cricket history. Lee is also known to be a man of many talents, also has a rock band named `Six & Out` along with his brother Shane. He plays the bass as well as the acoustic guitar. In 2006, he recorded a song with renowned singer Asha Bhosle. His went on to star in the Indo-Australian movie `UnIndian` also stars Indian actress Tannishtha Chatterjee
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Vinod Kambli: He made the record books for sharing an unbroken partnership of 664 runs in a school match with Sachin Tendulkar. Kambli started his Ranji trophy career with a six off the first ball he faced and followed Sachin into the Indian team. Kambli made two double-centuries and two centuries in seven tests. Unfortunately, off-field issues meant he played his last Test match at the age of 24. This Mumbai southpaw, who was famous for his histrionics on the cricket field, made his B-Town debut with Annarth that starred Sunil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt. Pic/ Bipin Kokate
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Sandeep Patil: Sandeep Patil was a dashing batsman and a useful medium-pace bowler. An aggressive batsman, he had a penchant for big hits. He is most famous for his 174 against Australia at Adelaide after getting concussed by a bouncer in the previous Test. He was one of the first cricketers to enter the Bollywood with `Kabhi Ajnabi The` opposite Poonam Dhillon, a leading actress of the 1980s. The film also had other cricketers like Syed Kirmani and Clive Lloyd. Pic/ Midday Archives
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Harbhajan Singh: The specialist spinner is also the former captain for Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians and Punjab`s Ranji team. Bhajji is one of the finest spinners in Tests and is the second leading wicket-taking off-spinner behind Muralitharan. He has taken over 400 Test wickets and 250 ODI wickets. He recently appeared in the Punjabi film Bhaji in Problem which was co-produced by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. Picture/ Getty Images
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Sunil Gavaskar: He made his acting debut in a Marathi film called Savli Premachi. Sunil Gavaskar was roped in by umpire Piloo Reporter to act with his sister Madhumati in Svali Premachi. The batting maestro also acted in Zakol (another Marathi film). Then after a break, he tried his hand at Hindi films with `Malamaal` alongside Naseeruddin Shah. Pic/ Midday Archives
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Anil Kumble: The legendary leg-spinner retired from international cricket before trying his hand at acting. He made his acting debut in a cricket-based flick `Meerabai Not Out` starring Mandira Bedi, Anupam Kher and Mahesh Manjrekar. Interestingly, commentator Charu Sharma also made a special appearance in the film. Picture/ Suresh K.K
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Sadgopan Ramesh: The former Indian opening batsman has acted in a few films. In 2008 he made his debut in the Tamil movie Santosh Subramaniam and then in 2011, he was the hero in his second movie, Potta Potti. Ramesh has the distinction of being the first Indian player to take a wicket off his first ball in ODI cricket, the victim being West Indian Nixon McLean
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Syed Kirmani: Kirmani is one of India`s greatest wicketkeepers of all times. As a batsman, he scored two Test hundreds. He played a crucial role in India`s triumph in the 1983 World Cup. He played a karate-chopping killer who undergoes a change of heart in `Kabhi Ajnabee The` (1985). The Indian wicketkeeper stole the show from hero and team-mate Sandeep Patil
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Salim Durrani: An all-rounder, Durrani was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and a big-hitting left-handed batsman. Durrani was the hero of India`s series victory against England in 1961-62. He was the first cricketer to win the Arjuna award. He starred in Charitra (1973) alongside late Parveen Babi. Durani had revealed in an interview that he was paid Rs 80,000 for the rich, playboy industrialist`s role
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Vijender Singh: The Indian boxer from Haryana is an Olympic bronze medallist and an Asian Games gold medallist. He has also won a silver and bronze in the Commonwealth Games. He is also an awardee of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. He also represented India at the 2012 Olympic Games. Vijender Singh made his debut in Bollywood this year with the film Fugly which is co-produced by Akshay Kumar and also stars Jimmy Shergill. Picture/ AFP
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Arnold Schwarzenegger: The former professional bodybuilder and three-time Mr. Universe won two weightlifting and powerlifting contests each and is considered as one of the biggest figures in bodybuilding. He then went on to become a famous actor in Hollywood with his starring role as Conan The Barbarian and The Terminator series, which are his biggest hits. His other known films are Predator, Total Recall, True Lies, and the Expendables franchise. Picture/ AFP
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Mike Tyson: The former professional boxer and an undisputed world heavyweight champion has numerous boxing records to his name. Known for his epic battles against Evander Holyfield whose ear he bit, and Lennox Lewis, Tyson has won 50 of his 58 fights including 44 Knockouts. He appeared in the Hollywood hit franchise The Hangover as himself. Picture/ AAFP
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Michael Jordan: The American basketball star player who shot to fame with the Chicago Bulls is a 6-time NBA champion and also a two-time Olympic gold medallist. He was won many other awards such as Most Valuable Player of the Year, NBA scoring leader and NBA All-Star Game appearances. He acted in the 1996 film Space Jam, as himself which also included animated characters from the Looney Tunes series. Pic/ AFP
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Shaquille O`Neal: The retired basketball star was one of the heaviest NBA players of all time. He played for star NBA teams such as LA Lakers, Miami Heat Boston Celtics before retiring. Shaq has also tried his hand at films in Hollywood such as Kazaam, Steel, Scary Movie 4, Adan Sandler-starrer Grown Ups 2 and Blended. Pic/ Getty Images
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Dennis Rodman: Basketball player Dennis Rodman played for various teams such as the Detriot Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. He is a winner of the NBA defensive player of the year on two occasions and was also inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Rodman, nicknamed `The worm` has made many big-screen appearances but is noted for his role in the Jean Claude Van Damme-Mickey Rourke starrer Double Team. He also played the title role in the movie Simon Sez. Besides this, Rodman has made various television appearances
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Vinnie Jones: Jones was a professional English footballer who played for known clubs such as Chelsea, Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United and Wimbledon. He also captain the Welsh national team and won the FA Cup final with Wimbledon. His Hollywood debut was with Guy Ritchie`s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He went on to star in the director`s next hit film Snatch. Jones has since starred in action films such as Swordfish, Gone in 60 Seconds, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Condemned and many more. Pic/ AFP
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OJ Simpson: The retired American footballer and murder convict played for NFL clubs Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Simpson`s sports career has been overshadowed with his criminal acts such as armed robberies and kidnapping and is currently serving a jail sentence. Simpson has been part of films such as The Towering Inferno before acting in the Naked Gun series with late comedian Leslie Nielsen. Pic/ AFP
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Carl Weathers: Carl Weathers was a professional linebacker in American football and had a brief stint with American football club Oakland Raiders and the Canadian football club B.C. Lions. His claim to fame in acting came with the hit franchise Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone, for his role as Apollo Creed. He also acted in other Hollywood films such as Predator, Action Jackson and Happy Gilmore. Pic/ AFP
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Photo of Day
Bliss by the beach
A photographer holds up the lights during a photo session by the Madh Island seashore. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
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