'Torbaaz': Sanjay Dutt's cricketing drama finally ready to pitch on to screens

The film, set in refugee camps in Afghanistan, has been four years in the making

Sanjay Dutt stars in 'Torbaaz', his first film released since the actor revealed his cancer battle. Courtesy Netflix

It's been waiting in the wings for several years, but Torbaaz is finally ready to step into the spotlight.

The film, starring veteran Indian actor Sanjay Dutt, will be released on Netflix on Friday, December 11, four years after the project was first announced.

The film revolves around Dutt, who plays an army officer struggling to forget his tragic past while trying to rehabilitate young children through cricket at refugee camps in war-torn Afghanistan.

It is a concept that former Pakistani cricketer Rameez Raja shared with Torbaaz director Girish Malik, with the rise of Afghanistan's cricket team on the world map striking a chord internationally.

Rahul Mittra, the film's producer, told The National the film had been planned for a Netflix release well before the pandemic hit.

"When Girish Malik came to me, we agreed to moot the project in principle, towards the end of 2016. It took two years to make the film, which is normal," Mittra says.

"When I saw the first cut in February this year, the marketing mind in me said, 'this film will do well on Netflix given its subject'."

The producer also plays the role of a colonel in the Afghan army in the film, something he says was not planned. Mittra has made cameo appearances in some of his past films, including the Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster trilogy. "I even did a look test and auditioned along with others," Mittra says.

Torbaaz marks the first Dutt film released since the actor, 61, revealed he had been diagnosed with, and since overcome, lung cancer.

"I am truly grateful for all the love and support that I have received over the past few months, and I am glad to be returning to the screen with this powerful film," Dutt said in a previous statement.

Mittra said Dutt was recovered and back in Mumbai after spending time with his family in Dubai.

While the film is set in Afghanistan, shooting also took place in Kyrgyzstan, an experience that the producer reveals was challenging yet rewarding.

"There was no set-up or precedent," says Mittra, adding Torbaaz was the first Indian production to shoot in the country.

"We had to build everything from scratch, even lug our equipment all the way. But we got what we wanted, which is important."

Torbaaz will be released on Netflix on Friday, December 11