Rajkummar Rao on Dada Poster Row: Team Has Learnt Its Lesson
Rajkummar Rao says the Dada team has learned not to rush after the Sourav Ganguly biopic poster drew criticism for looking AI-generated.
Rajkummar Rao has addressed the criticism around the first poster of Dada, the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic, with a simple admission: the team rushed the key art.
What went wrong with the poster
The first look arrived on Sourav Ganguly’s birthday, July 8. It recreated an iconic Ganguly moment — Rajkummar shirtless and waving an Indian flag — but many fans felt the artwork looked rushed or AI-generated, and the conversation quickly turned from excitement to scrutiny.
During promotions for Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, Rajkummar was asked about the backlash. His response, in an interview with Mashable India, was candid.
“The ones who made the poster have understood, they have learnt their lesson. They have understood they need to take their time and not rush things.”
He added that the reaction also told the team something bigger about the audience, saying Ganguly’s fan following is “crazy.”
Why a first look carries so much weight
For a biopic, the poster is not just an announcement. It is the audience’s first proof that the makers understand the person they are celebrating. Fans come with their own memories, and they compare every visual choice against them.
The Dada criticism is part of a wider shift in how audiences read promotional material:
- Fans notice when an image feels AI-polished rather than crafted with care.
- Anniversary reveals bring extra scrutiny, not just extra reach.
- A rushed first look can quietly overshadow casting and story news.
What Rajkummar shared about Sourav Ganguly
Rajkummar said he has met Sourav Ganguly several times and spent time at the cricketer’s home and at Eden Gardens while preparing for the role. Their conversations went beyond cricket, into personal territory that helps an actor understand how a person thinks.
Rajkummar said Ganguly was open with him and, in his words, “laid his life bare before me.” He called Ganguly a legend and credited him with building the foundation of the modern Indian team.
What comes next for the actor
Rajkummar is currently promoting Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. The courtroom drama releases in theatres on October 16 and follows Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam’s role in the legal battles around the 1993 Bombay bombings and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Wamiqa Gabbi, Lalit Prabhakar, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sikandar Kher also star.
He also confirmed that Stree 3 is still in the scripting stage, with the team focused on making it fun to watch rather than simply pushing the franchise forward. Dada and Raftaar are also on his upcoming slate.
Source: Hindustan Times
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