RANBIR KAPOOR TO STRIKE AGAINST FILM BAN

The actor and ‘striker’ will lead our team in a friendly football match against Bangladesh to commemorate the end of a 41-year-old blackout of Indian films

Cricketers may no longer be the darlings of the nation. And Bollywood may no longer be all starry-eyed at the mention of the sport. What better way then to herald the end of a 41-year-old ban on Indian films in our neighbouring Bangladesh, than a friendly football match between our actors and theirs?

TOI has learnt that on April 15 and in May, a team captained by Ranbir Kapoor will take on a Bangladeshi one, led by top actor Firdaus, at two commemorative matches in Dhaka and in Kolkata.

Bangladesh had imposed the ban in 1972 to protect the indigenous film industry from the onslaught of Indian, especially Hindi films.

While team Bangladesh will be represented by stars from their film industry, team India is likely to have Abhishek Bachchan, Prosenjit, Mithun Chakbraborty and with a host of Bengali stars.Ranbir will play as a striker.

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