Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Priyadarshan Recalls Eye Injury While Chasing Tiger Pataudi
Priyadarshan is a filmmaker who admired the late cricketer Tiger Pataudi.
When he was younger, he once ran after Pataudi because he wanted to meet him.
He fell and badly injured his eye but did not get to meet the cricketer.
Priyadarshan later watched Pataudi play in Chennai.
Pataudi was Saif Ali Khan’s father.
Saif noticed that both his father and Priyadarshan had lost sight in one eye.
Priyadarshan and Saif talked about Pataudi while making the movie Haiwaan.
Haiwaan also stars Akshay Kumar and is planned for release on September 11.
Priyadarshan recalled injuring himself while running to meet cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan ‘Tiger’ Pataudi during a Ranji Trophy match.
The filmmaker said he later watched Pataudi play against the West Indies in Chennai, in a match featuring centuries by Farokh Engineer.
Saif Ali Khan said his father and Priyadarshan both lost an eye while excelling professionally.
Priyadarshan and Saif discussed Tiger Pataudi extensively while filming the action-thriller Haiwaan, which also stars Akshay Kumar.
Haiwaan marks Saif’s first film with Priyadarshan and is scheduled to release in theatres on September 11.
- Who
- Filmmaker Priyadarshan, actor Saif Ali Khan, and the late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi are central to the story.
- What
- Priyadarshan recalled his efforts to meet Pataudi, his eye injury, and conversations about him with Saif during Haiwaan’s production.
- When
- Priyadarshan described the memories in a recent News18 interview; Haiwaan is scheduled to release on September 11.
- Where
- The remembered cricket matches took place at a university stadium and in Chennai; the film was discussed on the sets of Haiwaan.
- Why
- Priyadarshan admired Pataudi, while Saif and Priyadarshan’s shared eye injuries became a point of connection.
- Film
- Haiwaan
- Director
- Priyadarshan
- Key cast
- Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Sharib Hashmi, Saiyami Kher, and Shriya Pilgaonkar
- Release
- Scheduled for theatres on September 11
- Pataudi’s injury
- Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi lost sight in his right eye after a 1961 car accident in London
- Priyadarshan’s injury
- A cricket ball hit Priyadarshan’s left eye and ended his state-level cricket career
- Earlier collaboration plan
- Saif was previously considered for Priyadarshan’s Garam Masala, but the script was not completed in time