‘He has hit it out of the stadium...' KJo, Alia, and Taapsee shower praise on ‘83’, gush over Ranveer’s performance

It seems like Deepika Padukone’s prayers are already being answered. The actress visited the Siddhivinayak temple before the film’s release on 24 December. However, praises for the film and Ranveer Singh’s performance, have already been flowing in, since its star-studded premiere, in Mumbai, on Thursday night.

‘83’ is a cricket-drama, directed by filmmaker Kabir Khan, and chronicles India's win under Kapil Dev's captainship, when the team defeated West Indies in the final to clinch their first-ever World Cup trophy in 1983. Singh steps into the shoes of Kapil Dev in the film, while Deepika Padukone plays the role of Dev’s wife, Romi Bhatia.

Film-maker Karan Johar called Singh’s performance in the film powerful yet restrained. He felt that the actor had transformed into Dev’s character like a ‘bonafide veteran’. The 49-year-old director shared a poster of the film on Instagram, and said that while it isn’t easy to tell a true story, an actual account of a milestone event in Indian sport history, the team of ‘83’ has done a stellar job, and the film is a ‘monument achievement’.

“There is no room for cinematic licenses and distortion of facts for dramatic impact… which is exactly why #83thefilm is such a monumental achievement …. It sucks you into that year… that World Cup, that team, that political climate, that mad fandom frenzy,” said KJo.

Johar said that he found himself rooting for every member of that historic team while watching the film, but most of all, for director Kabir Khan and his masterful storytelling. Talking about Singh’s performance, the film-maker added, “Taking an arduous task and perfecting it like a mega methodical master! Salute! I saw myself believing that @ranveersingh had transformed into the Legend Kapil Dev with the ease and genius of a bonafide veteran!” The K3G maker stated that with ‘83’ Ranveer Singh has definitely ‘hit it out of the stadium!”

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt too, took to her Instagram Stories and wrote that adjectives fall short of describing this film. Bhatt wrote, ”there were so many moments (while watching the film) where I wanted to clap, scream, cry, and dance at the same time,” and added that she walked out a different person after experiencing this film.

Praising Singh’s performance, Bhatt said, “ You are too good. Please go to sleep for years so that we can all catch up with your brilliance! Actor to actor, thank you for being you.”

Actress Taapsee Pannu too was clean bowled by the film. The actress tweeted, “every single actor who appeared on screen had my heart! What a piece of art! What writing ! What direction! Cricket is a team sport and so is film making, all I can say is well played.”

Ranveer Singh wore an all-white ensemble at the premiere of the film which was attended by Alia Bhatt, Neha Dhupia, Kapil Dev among others. However, Padukone stole the show during the screening, in a gorgeous black strapless gown which she paired with a emerald-diamond neckpiece.