Took lot of convincing for 'Azhar': Azharuddin

Actors Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai with former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin and director Tony D'Souza promote the film 'Azhar'

New Delhi: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin, whose life's lows and highs will be depicted with added drama in forthcoming film "Azhar", says that he took a lot of convincing before the film went on floors.

"I took a lot of convincing. When I read the script, I had to change a lot and the makers also agreed to the changes," Azharuddin told reporters here at a press conference Tuesday for the film's promotion.

Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai with former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin and director Tony D'Souza promote the film 'Azhar'. Pic/ PTI

He denied reports which suggest that actress Sangeeta Bijlani who was also the cricketer's former wife was apprehensive of her depiction in the film.

"I don't think so. Even I have read the reports but I don't know how true are they," he said.

"Azhar" will narrate the highs and lows of Azharuddin's life as the captain of the Indian cricket team for most of the 1990s, being tainted by a match-fixing scandal in 2000, and getting banned for life.

Àctor Emraan Hashmi will be seen playing the titular role in the film, which also stars Prachi Desai, Nargis Fakhri, Lara Dutta among others.

Directed by Tony D'Souza, "Azhar", which is jointly produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and MSM Motion Pictures, is set to release on Friday.