The makers of Sourav Ganguly’s upcoming biopic have responded to reports linking the film’s shoot at Leicestershire’s Grace Road with the poor pitch that led to a 27 point deduction for the English county side.
LUV Films, the production company behind the Ganguly biopic, has denied that the filming was conducted without proper planning or permission. Responding to questions from Sports Now, the makers said the shoot at Grace Road was properly organised and carried out with the necessary permissions and protocols in place. They also said they were not aware of any incident or issue connected with the filming.
The controversy emerged after Leicestershire were sanctioned for the condition of the pitch used during their County Championship match against Glamorgan at Grace Road from August 20 to 23, 2026. Leicestershire won the match by 42 runs, but the pitch was subsequently rated as poor, leading to disciplinary action by the Cricket Regulator and the independent Cricket Discipline Panel.
During the disciplinary proceedings, Leicestershire head groundsman Callum Lewin cited several factors that he said had affected preparations for the match. Among them was a Bollywood film shoot that took place at Grace Road four days before the fixture. According to Lewin, the filming was unscheduled from the grounds team's perspective and prevented him from working on or covering the pitch during part of the preparation period.
Lewin also referred to other circumstances, including the fact that the surface had previously been used for two T20 matches around 10 weeks earlier and that temperatures had reached approximately 35 degrees. His comments formed part of Leicestershire's explanation for the condition of the surface before the Glamorgan match.
The film shoot was reportedly conducted for Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, the upcoming biographical film based on the former India captain. The movie is being directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by LUV Films, with actor Rajkummar Rao set to portray Ganguly. The project has attracted attention because of its focus on one of India's prominent modern-era cricket figures.
However, the Cricket Discipline Panel did not accept the film shoot as a mitigating factor for the poor pitch. According to the available disciplinary reporting, the filming took place for one day and was considered by the panel before being rejected as an explanation that could reduce the responsibility of the county for the pitch.
The panel's decision was based on the overall condition and preparation of the pitch rather than solely on the film shoot. Match referee Ian Ramage recorded 43 instances of uneven bounce during the match. The disciplinary findings attributed the uneven bounce to moving cracks and identified other problems with the playing surface.
The panel concluded that Leicestershire had not deliberately prepared a poor pitch. However, it found that the club's approach to preparing the surface was unreasonable and did not meet the required standard for producing the best possible pitch for the match. This distinction is important because the disciplinary finding did not establish that the Ganguly biopic shoot itself caused the poor pitch.
Under the disciplinary decision, Leicestershire lost the 19 points they had earned from their victory over Glamorgan. An additional eight point deduction was imposed, resulting in a total deduction of 27 points. The club was also fined £5,000. A further eight point penalty was suspended until the end of the 2027 season, according to the disciplinary details reported by Sky Sports.
Leicestershire subsequently said it was reviewing the disciplinary decision and considering its available options. The club was also given the opportunity to appeal the ruling within the specified period. The penalty had significant implications for the team's position in the County Championship Division One table.
The response from the Ganguly biopic's makers adds another dimension to the controversy. While the Leicestershire groundsman described the filming as an unscheduled event from his perspective and cited it among the factors affecting pitch preparation, LUV Films has stated that the shoot had been duly planned and carried out with all requisite permissions and protocols.
The two accounts therefore concern different aspects of the same event. Leicestershire's explanation focused on how the filming affected the grounds team's ability to prepare and protect the pitch, while the film producers' response focused on the legality, planning and permissions associated with the production.
The disciplinary panel's findings also indicate that the film shoot was not treated as the sole cause of the pitch problems. The decision considered the broader preparation of the surface, including its previous use, weather conditions and the physical characteristics of the pitch during the Glamorgan match.
For the Ganguly biopic, the controversy comes while production continues on the film about the former India captain. Ganguly was one of India's most prominent cricketers and captains, and his career included the 2002 NatWest Trophy final at Lord's, where his shirt-waving celebration became one of the most recognisable moments associated with Indian cricket.
The Grace Road episode has therefore brought the upcoming film into the spotlight for reasons unrelated to its storyline or production. At present, the available reports establish that a Bollywood shoot connected to the biopic took place at the ground and that Leicestershire cited the event during disciplinary proceedings. The production company, however, has rejected any suggestion that the shoot was conducted without the necessary permissions.
The Cricket Discipline Panel's decision ultimately centred on Leicestershire's responsibility for preparing the playing surface. The biopic shoot was considered as part of the circumstances surrounding the pitch but was not accepted as a mitigating factor. The 27 point deduction and £5,000 fine remain part of the disciplinary ruling, while Leicestershire has indicated that it is reviewing the decision.