‘You Ask A Lot Of Questions’: When MS Dhoni Lost His Cool At Sushant Singh Rajput During Biopic Prep

Some stories behind a film stay with audiences long after the last scene fades away. On MS Dhoni’s birthday, one such memory from the making of M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story takes us back to the special bond shared between the cricketer and Sushant Singh Rajput, who stepped into the shoes of India’s former captain for the much-loved biopic.

When Sushant Singh Rajput was chosen to play MS Dhoni on screen, the actor knew that simply looking like the cricketer would not be enough. He had to understand Dhoni’s quiet personality, his thought process, his mannerisms and the little details that made him one of India’s most loved sports icons. To prepare for the role, Sushant spent time with Dhoni and observed him closely.

During one of their preparation

sessions, Sushant’s curiosity reportedly tested Dhoni’s patience. The actor was known for going deep into his characters, and while trying to understand Dhoni better, he kept returning to the same question in different ways.

Recalling the experience during the film’s promotions, Sushant shared, “For the first time, I have seen Dhoni losing his cool. First two to three days I asked him some questions and he answered them calmly. Then he said you ask a lot of questions let me come back. I was just asking him one question in different ways again and again.”

Dhoni, who was present during the interaction, explained why Sushant kept repeating his questions. He said, “He (Sushant) used to ask one question repeatedly and if he gets a similar answer then he used to believe that I am being honest and then he used to go to the next question.”

The cricketer also admitted that opening up about his personal life was not easy for him initially. “It was a bit awkward initially to speak about yourself. After 15 mins you get bored talking about yourself and I was like I need a break, I am going,” Dhoni said.

Beyond the preparation and interviews, fans also got a glimpse of the comfort level between the two during the film’s promotions. Videos of Sushant spending time and playing with Dhoni’s daughter Ziva had gone viral, with many appreciating the warm equation between the actor and the cricketer.

The memories around M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story became even more emotional after Sushant Singh Rajput’s sudden death on June 14, 2020. The actor was found dead at his Mumbai residence at the age of 34. His death led to extensive investigations and public discussions, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later filing a closure report ruling out foul play and treating it as a case of suicide.

Director Neeraj Pandey later recalled that Dhoni was deeply affected by the news of Sushant’s passing. Speaking to XtraTime, Pandey said, “Apart from calling Mahi bhai, I have also called two of his best friends Mihir Diwakar and Arun Pandey. They all seemed very upset with such a terrible news. Mahi bhai was in a shock to hear the news and got shattered.”

The film became one of the most memorable chapters in Sushant’s career. Released in 2016, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story brought the journey of the Ranchi-born cricketer to the big screen, from his early days and struggles to becoming the captain who led India to major victories.

Directed and co-written by Neeraj Pandey, the biographical sports drama featured Sushant Singh Rajput as Dhoni, along with Disha Patani, Kiara Advani and Anupam Kher in key roles. The film followed Dhoni’s life journey through several important moments, including his rise in cricket and the personal challenges behind his success.

The idea for the biopic came from Dhoni’s manager Arun Pandey after an incident following India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup victory. Development on the project began two years later after Dhoni gave his approval. Neeraj Pandey was later brought on board as director while he was working on Baby. A team was formed to research Dhoni’s life extensively, with the cricketer himself becoming a consultant for the film.

Released on September 30, 2016, by Fox Star Studios, the movie received one of the widest releases for a Bollywood film at the time, arriving across 61 countries. It was also dubbed in Tamil, Telugu and Marathi, although the Marathi version was later cancelled following opposition.

The film went on to become both a critical and commercial success. It emerged as the fifth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2016 and the sixth highest-grossing Indian film worldwide that year, earning ₹215.48 crore (US$23 million).