The news revolves around the story of Chakda ‘Xpress again but for wrong reasons. The said biographical sports drama is based on the life of India’s cricket legend
The news revolves around the story of Chakda ‘Xpress again but for wrong reasons. The said biographical sports drama is based on the life of India’s cricket legend Jhulan Goswami. The filming was completed by Anushka Sharma who makes her comeback in the leading role quite a long time ago. However, the release of the movie is for some mysterious reasons delayed. And suddenly in the unpredictable change of circumstances. Jhulan herself has opened her mouth about the uncertainty around the release of the film.
Here is everything you need to know about Chakda ‘Xpress, covering production and plot to current status and why its delay has disappointed and raised hopes in the audiences.
Before diving deeper into the delay, it must first be understood why this biopic is important. Jhulan Goswami is not only an icon in the cricketing world, she’s a path breaker for women’s sports in India. The young lady born in Chakdaha, West Bengal went on to become fastest female bowler in the world’s history and one of the most powerful ambassadors of cricket.
She was India’s representative in the National team between 2002 and 2022 and took the national team of women through some of their most formative years. Her kind of a story should get cinematic homage, and the Netflix, in partnership with Clean Slate Filmz, decided to breathe life into it via Chakda ‘Xpress.
The movie follows Jhulan Goswami’s story, starting from her ambitions in a small town to reaching the top as a women’s cricket legend. The movie details how she battled discrimination against women, shortage of resources, and lack of recognition from the world cricket body.
The film touches on Goswami’s strong leadership while India moved towards the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup Final, how she supported her teammates, and her unbreakable determination.
After becoming a mother, Sharma took time off and picked a role that offered depth, challenge, and meaning.
To embody Jhulan’s fast-bowling persona, Anushka trained for over seven months—learning cricket techniques, mastering Goswami’s bowling action, and even shadowing her mannerisms. Her physical transformation and dedication to authenticity have been widely appreciated by the cast and crew.
Behind-the-scenes clips and leaked photos showcased Sharma donning Team India jerseys on recreated stadiums and cricket pitches. But despite all this buzz, the final film remains unseen.
The announcement made early in the year raised tension, and Netflix released a first look teaser of Anushka Sharma walking towards the pitch in blue gear. Production for the film began in mid-2022, and it was said to be wrapped up by December 2022.
However, the initial plan was to release the movie in mid to late 2023, maybe with the help of India’s cricket schedule or even major league, internationally. This was a way of generating conversations regarding women’s cricket and making a cultural impact outside the box office numbers.
Several reasons have surfaced, and while none are confirmed officially by Netflix or Clean Slate Filmz, credible industry insiders have hinted at the following:
Reports suggest disagreements between the production house and Netflix regarding creative direction, especially around edits, tone, and pacing. Netflix allegedly wanted a tighter, commercially viable cut, while the producers aimed for an authentic, long-form narrative.
Clean Slate Filmz, co-founded by Anushka Sharma and her brother Karnesh Sharma, was earlier in a partnership with Netflix. However, in 2022, their professional tie-up reportedly dissolved. This impacted Chakda ‘Xpress’ distribution, as Netflix may no longer be involved in the project’s release.
The teaser Netflix released in 2022 was reportedly footage from a pre-production look test, not actual scenes. Fans noticed inconsistent VFX and criticized the editing. This early backlash may have forced the makers to rework key segments.
Even though principal shooting was completed, insiders reveal that post-production issues—including sound mixing, cricket match visualizations, and editing—have slowed the release pipeline. With no official streaming platform currently confirmed, marketing also seems stalled.
Jhulan Goswami addressed the elephant in the room in her recent interview. She explained that while she was part of the whole process during the research and planning, she has no recent update from the team producing. ‘I don’t know when it will release,’ she said, which means the subject of the biopic is himself also in dark as far as the release is concerned.
Her honest statement was a spark in fan frustration and also presented questions about the communication gaps between stakeholders.
Industry experts believe that the film is too valuable to shelve. With women’s cricket gaining momentum, especially after India’s performances in global T20 and ODI events. Chakda ‘Xpress could still become a timely and powerful release.
If not Netflix, the film could find a new home on Amazon Prime Video, Sony LIV, or JioCinema—platforms aggressively pursuing sports content and biographical dramas.
Optimists within the industry hint that a mid-2025 release window is still possible, depending on final cut approvals and re-negotiated streaming rights.
Beyond commercial success, Chakda ‘Xpress carries emotional and cultural weight. It brings visibility to the unsung heroes of women’s cricket and inspires younger generations to dream beyond societal constraints.
Anushka Sharma’s portrayal of Jhulan—regardless of delays—stands as a landmark role for female sports-based narratives in Indian cinema.
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The delay has been said to be caused by several reasons such as creative differences, a backlash on teaser and dissolved collaboration agreement between Clean Slate Filmz and Netflix.
No. So far there is no official date of release announced. Industry ‘insiders’ suggest a possible 2025 release, if a new streaming partner is found.
Yes, main shooting and all the post—production has been done. The film is in the final stages of post-production but with final edits and release to a platform.
Unlikely. When Clean Slate Filmz and Netflix reportedly went their different ways, the film might now be seeking a new digital partner.
