Pankaj in and as Pankaj

World professional billiards champion Pankaj Advani will take acting and dancing lessons for a Hollywood film on his life and times
World beater in blockbuster

World-beater Pankaj Advani will act as himself in a lavishly mounted Hollywood film.

R Chenraj Jain, chancellor, Jain University, is preparing to produce the film on the world billiard champion's life and times.

Pankaj returned to hometown Bangalore on Tuesday after winning the world pro billiards championship.

This will be Pankaj's first time in front of a camera, but he has already shot a promo.

Two cities

Jain is talking to well-known directors and scriptwriters in Los Angeles and Mumbai. He plans to make the film in English and Hindi.

The Jain Group of Institutions is producing the film, and MiD DAY has gained exclusive access to the promo.

Pankaj, who studied B Com at Jain College, will soon sign up for an MBA degree.

"I have decided to gift him a movie on his success," Jain told MiD DAY.

Negotiations

It took Jain's team six rounds of meetings to convince Advani.

"I know all about his struggle... the movie will chronicle it," Jain said.

The film will be shot on the lines of The Pursuit of Happyness, the Hollywood film about Chris Gardener, the American who started out as an ordinary man and earned spectacular wealth.

"The movie will be realistic," Jain explained. "Pankaj's life is a message in itself."

Gym time

Pankaj has started working out at a gym, and will also start taking classes in acting and dancing.

Jain preferred not to reveal details about the crew before the formal announcement of the film in October.

"Two script-writers are working on it," he said. "We will honour Pankaj at a grand event, after which we will announce all details."