Cricket legend Shahid Afridi recently spilt the beans on his near foray into the entertainment world. The all-rounder, known for his powerful performances on the cricket field, disclosed in an interview with Samaa TV that he had been offered movies by both the Pakistani and Bollywood film industries. However, the cricketer gracefully turned down these opportunities.
“I was offered films twice or thrice, I got offers from India, and I also got an offer from Pakistan. I think we should do what we know well, we should not do tasks which are not meant for us. I am known because of my cricket, my inclination was towards cricket. I never thought of doing movies. I did a few commercials and did acting in but I never thought of doing films,” Afridi candidly said.
Afridi’s stance echoes a sentiment often debated in the realm of cross-industry ventures: should one stick to what they know best or take the plunge into uncharted waters? In Afridi’s case, the cricket maestro’s heart beats for the cricket pitch, and he remains steadfast in his commitment to the sport that propelled him to international stardom.
The idea of cricketers entering the entertainment world is not new in Pakistan, with famous personalities like Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, and Fawad Alam trying their hand at acting. Wasim Akram made his debut in the recently released film Money Back Guarantee, Shoaib Malik ventured into the acting realm in 2022 with cameo appearances in the web series Baarwan Khiladi and the movie Chakkar, while Fawad Alam made his acting debut in 2019 with a cameo in the comedy-drama sitcom Ghar Damad.
As fans, the mere thought of witnessing Afridi’s charisma on the silver screen is tantalizing. The cricketer’s larger-than-life persona, combined with his on-field heroics, could undoubtedly create magic in the cinema. Unfortunately, the Boom Boom maestro, who has retired is still firmly committed to cricket, leaving us to wonder what could have been.
