From Reel to Real: Kai Po Che child star Digvijay ready to realise 'IPL dream' with MI

Remember shy little boy Ali, who used to love playing marbles and hit sixes for fun in 2013 film 'Kai Po Che'? It was reel life where Ali's character finally realises his coach Govind's dream in backdrop of 2002 Gujarat riots and don India colours at end of film loosely adapted from Chetan Bhagat's vel 'Three Mistakes of My Life'. Six years hence, little did child star Digvijay Deshmukh, w all of 21, kw that he would be picked at IPL auction by Mumbai Indians for Rs 20 lakh.

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"Yes, I am Digvijay and I acted as Ali in that movie Kai Po Che. But I was never an actor and always a cricketer. w I am slowly realising my dream," Digvijay, who was rewarded by MI for his steady show for Maharashtra in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he got 9 wickets in seven games, told PTI during a chat. As if to celebrate his maiden IPL call-up, Digvijay has also picked up six wickets and scored 83 in Maharashtra's second innings on his Ranji Trophy debut against Jammu and Kashmir.

While he recollected his time as a child actor and instant popularity he got, he admitted that he never liked being branded as an actor. "I had gone to play an U-14 school tournament in Mumbai and one of ADs (assistant director) of film selected me for audition and n I got role. Everyone was very nice. I remember playing a lot of cricket with Sushant (Singh Rajput) and Rajkumar Rao. character was somewhat like me, shy, reticent," Digvijay said. However, re was something that made him angry.

"People would refer to me as an actor and I would be very angry. Mujhe gussa aata thaa. I did Kai Po Che because a lot of scenes were just about playing cricket. But staying outdoor for four months hampered my cricket and I didn't want that to happen ever again," Digvijay recollected. "I got an opportunity to do a television commercial (advertisement) but I declined. My parents (far a school teacher and mor a homemaker) also supported me. I didn't want focus to waver from game," said Pune based Digvijay, who has come up ranks after playing for Maharashtra in National U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy.

Ask him about his coaches, he said: "Right w, I am getting a lot of guidance from Surendra Bhave sir, our Ranji team coach. As far as my childhood coaches are concerned, re have been a few people who have helped me. If I name one particular, someone else might get anyed." He believes that his aver speed is in range of 132-134 kmph and he can swing ball both ways. "I have preference. I have just played a Ranji Trophy game and I want to play across all formats for my state team," he said.

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However, only thing that he was cy about was talking about his trials and selection for Mumbai Indians. "I can't talk about Mumbai Indians for next two months as that's an instruction from franchise. Please excuse me on that front," shy young man said.