Abhinay Deo says ‘Doosra’ turns Ganguly’s Lord’s roar into a story of rebellion

A cricketing triumph becomes a story of personal freedom

For director Abhinay Deo, Sourav Ganguly’s shirt-waving celebration at Lord’s in 2002 was more than a sporting high point. He saw it as a declaration of national self-belief—and the emotional starting point for Doosra, a film that connects the historic cricket moment with a young woman’s fight against social expectations.

Deo recalled India’s victory over a formidable opponent on their home ground as a moment that encouraged young people to believe they could overcome the odds. “If they can do it, we can do it too,” was the message he said many took from the celebration.

Beyond the cricket pitch

The film’s protagonist is not a cricketer. Deo said centring the story on a young woman was a deliberate choice: keeping it only within cricket, he argued, would have reduced a subject that was ultimately about inspiration and freedom. He described Doosra as “a story of courage,” “rebellion” and “standing up and recognising that we are good enough.”

Shot several years ago, the film is now reaching audiences. Deo believes its exploration of prejudice and personal agency has not lost its relevance with time, saying he could imagine it still resonating decades from now. He also connected its message to his own career, recalling that the inspiration behind the project prompted him to reassess whether he was capable of making the choices he had made.

Deo urges filmmakers to back unconventional stories

Deo acknowledged the place of large-scale productions, franchises and star-led films, but said the industry also has a responsibility to support work that pushes storytelling forward and gives audiences new perspectives. Filmmakers, he argued, should not assume viewers only want familiar formulas.

“It's not ‘audience ko yehi pasand hai.’ It's about what we're giving the audience,” he said, adding that audiences should be allowed to decide what they like after being offered a broader range of stories.