The best scenes from Jersey (2022), Shahid Kapoor’s cricket drama, are his moments with real-life father Pankaj Kapur as Coach Baali, his confession about not affording a jersey for his son, his return to the cricket ground, Mrunal Thakur’s slap, and his scream beside a passing train. The film streams on Netflix in India.
Jersey is Gowtam Tinnanuri’s Hindi remake of his own 2019 Telugu film starring Nani, which won the National Award for Best Telugu Feature Film. The Hindi version did not do well at the box office, but it found a second life on OTT, where many viewers called it one of Shahid’s most honest performances.
Jersey (2022): quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release date | 22 April 2022 |
| Director | Gowtam Tinnanuri |
| Cast | Shahid Kapoor, Mrunal Thakur, Pankaj Kapur, Ronit Kamra |
| Producers | Allu Aravind, Dil Raju, Aman Gill and others |
| Music | Sachet-Parampara (songs), Anirudh Ravichander (score) |
| Box office | About Rs 27 crore worldwide |
| Where to watch | Netflix (streaming since 20 May 2022) |
| Original | Jersey (2019, Telugu), starring Nani |
What is Jersey about?
Arjun Talwar (Shahid Kapoor) was a gifted batsman from Punjab who quit cricket in his twenties. Years later, he is 36, jobless after a corruption case at work, and dependent on his wife Vidya (Mrunal Thakur), who holds the family together.
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His young son Kittu (Ronit Kamra) wants just one thing for his birthday: an Indian team jersey. Arjun cannot afford it. That small, painful moment pushes him back to the cricket ground, with help from his old coach Baali (Pankaj Kapur).
5 wonderful scenes from Jersey
1. Shahid Kapoor and Pankaj Kapur share the screen
Pankaj Kapur plays Coach Baali, the one man who never stops believing in Arjun. Watching real-life father and son play mentor and student adds a layer you cannot fake. Their scenes are warm, funny and quietly emotional.
The moment where Arjun holds his coach close, which also featured in the trailer, sums up their bond. Pankaj had directed Shahid in Mausam (2011), and the two acted together in Shaandaar (2015), but Jersey gives them their best material as a pair.
2. Arjun confesses his biggest fear to Vidya
Arjun admits he cannot even buy his son a jersey. More than the money, he fears that Kittu will one day see him the way everyone else does, as a failure.
Shahid plays it without big dialogue or tears. The shame on his face does the work. It is the scene that explains why a 36-year-old would risk everything to play again.
3. Arjun walks back onto the cricket ground
When Arjun returns to the field after a decade, the crowd cheers and he looks every bit the star he once was. Shahid’s batting looks convincing, from his stance to his shot-making, which is not always the case in Bollywood sports films.
The scene works because the film has made you wait for it. After an hour of watching him struggle, seeing him back in whites with a bat in hand feels earned.
4. Vidya slaps Arjun
Desperate to buy the jersey, Arjun takes money from Vidya’s purse. She catches him, and her anger boils over into a slap. It is one of the most uncomfortable moments in the film, and one of the most real.
Mrunal Thakur plays Vidya as a tired, practical woman who has run out of patience, not as a villain. Shahid’s reaction, a mix of shock and shame, makes the scene land.
5. Arjun screams beside a passing train
The best-known scene in both versions of Jersey takes place at a railway station. Alone on the platform, Arjun finally lets out everything he has bottled up for years, screaming as a train roars past and drowns out his voice.
Nani’s version of this scene became iconic in Telugu cinema, and Shahid’s take does it justice. Without a single line of dialogue, it captures the frustration and release of a man who has been silent for too long.
Why Jersey works better on a second watch
Jersey is a long film, at close to three hours, and the first half moves slowly. On a second watch, that slow build makes more sense. Every small humiliation Arjun faces at home is setting up the payoff on the field. The cricket is exciting, but the family scenes are what stay with you.
Jersey ending explained (spoiler)
Arjun plays on in the Ranji Trophy final despite a serious heart condition he has hidden from everyone. He wins the match for his team. Years later, an adult Kittu reveals that his father died soon after the final, and that he knew the risk all along. The jersey Kittu finally receives carries his father’s name.
For more on Shahid Kapoor’s films and other sports dramas, browse our Bollywood and movies sections, or read more listicles.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Jersey (2022)?
Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey streams on Netflix in India. It has been on the platform since 20 May 2022.
Is Jersey a true story?
No. Jersey is a fictional story. Director Gowtam Tinnanuri wrote it for the 2019 Telugu film, and remade it in Hindi with Shahid Kapoor.
Who plays the coach in Jersey?
Pankaj Kapur, Shahid Kapoor’s real-life father, plays Coach Baali, Arjun’s mentor.
Was Jersey a hit or flop?
Jersey was a box office failure, earning about Rs 27 crore worldwide. Critics praised the performances, and the film found a bigger audience on Netflix.
Sources: Wikipedia: Jersey (2022 film), Wikipedia: Jersey (2019 film).
