The director, who considers himself a footballer first and a filmmaker later, said the idea had been brewing for a long time. He plans to shoot the film by the end of this year or early next year once he finishes his project with Amitabh Bachchan. The entire film will be shot in Bengal.
Shoojit, who has successfully collaborated with Abraham on 'Vicky Donar' and on political thriller 'Madras Cafe', says the script is a wedding gift to Abraham. The 41-year-old actor married girlfriend Priya Runchal in the US this month.
Written by 'Gulaab Gang' director Soumik Sen, the story is based on Mohun Bagan's victory against East Yorkshire Regiment back in 1911. They became the first native team to have won the IFA Shield by defeating Yorkshire. The Indian players played barefeet and in dhotis while the British team wore boots and shorts.
The director, a football enthusiast, is planning to rope in famous football players from India and abroad for the film.
"The story has always been in the domain but it was Soumik who suggested that we should make a movie. Like me, John is also a football enthusiast so he boarded the project," Shoojit said.