Rajkummar Rao BREAKS Silence On Dada Poster Backlash: Team Has Learnt Its Lesson

Rajkummar Rao has responded to the criticism surrounding the first-look poster of Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, admitting that the team behind the promotional material learnt an important lesson about taking its time. The poster, unveiled on former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly's birthday in July this year, recreated his iconic shirtless celebration at Lord's but drew criticism online, with several fans questioning its visual quality and suggesting it looked AI-generated. Speaking in a recent interview, Rajkummar acknowledged the backlash, discussed his interactions with Ganguly and shared why the cricket legend's journey requires a deeper understanding.

The original poster of the film came in for criticism for replicating Ganguly's iconic shirt-waving celebration after India's win over England in the 2002 NatWest Series final. Rajkummar spoke about the criticism in an interview with Mashable India.

"The ones who made it, they learnt the lesson that they shouldn't have rushed it. Take your time, there's no hurry. I think the team learnt their lesson. But they also learnt another thing with this, that Dada has a crazy fan following," the actor said.

The poster was unveiled on July 8, on Ganguly's birthday. Arguably one of the most recognisable images linked with the former captain, its execution provoked disagreement among supporters. Some criticised its look and accused the creators of using artificial intelligence. The reaction, Rajkummar said, highlighted the immense love and expectations around Ganguly, whose contribution to Indian cricket still reverberates among fans.

The actor also expressed his views on the rising use of artificial intelligence in cinema. He said the technology is here to stay, but we should not let it take the place of human ingenuity and labour. "Technology has pros and cons. AI will come, you can’t stop it, but we should use it as a supporting tool. You can’t be totally dependent on it," he said, adding that widespread dependence on AI could affect the livelihoods of thousands of people working in the film industry.

Rajkummar revealed that he had met Ganguly several times during the making of the biopic. The team spent considerable time in Kolkata and filmed portions of the project at Ganguly's residence and the iconic Eden Gardens. The actor said their conversations gave him access to personal details that could help him understand the cricketer beyond his public image.

"We have discussed things that I cannot reveal now, because it's important to know personal things to understand a person's mind. He was very open about it; he laid his life bare before me," Rajkummar said.

Calling Ganguly a legend, the actor credited him with laying the foundation for the Indian team that fans recognise today. He also hinted that the film would explore the difficult phases of the cricketer’s career, including how he faced setbacks and fought his way through them.