MS Dhoni biopic: Virat Kohli's character was an integral part of movie until just before release?

Several reports suggested that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan played the role of Virat Kohli in the movie and the character had a cameo appearance planned.

New Delhi: The Indian limited overs' skipper, MS Dhoni's biopic – MS Dhoni: The Untold Story – got off to a whooping response, earning plenty of plaudits from critics.

The Sushant Singh Rajput starer also came close to touching the Rs. 100 crore mark on the very first week of its release and Dhoni was humbled with the response.

The biopic which was a delight to cricket fans as it revealed plenty of unseen and unheard incidents of the Mahi's life, did keep the fans wondering why the name of Virat Kohli wasn't even mentioned in the movie.

Initially, several reports suggested that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan played the role of Virat Kohli in the movie and the character had a cameo appearance shot.

In the wake of the Indo-Pak tentions that rose following the Uri attack, the role got chopped off right before the release of the film. As per a report on BollywoodLife, a source close to the film admitted that Fawad (as Kohli) had a special role in the movie.

However, the makers of the movie later rubbished the rumours clarifying that the Pakistani actor was never intended to be there in the film. Clearing the air stating, "Fawad Khan was never part of the film MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. Even when we were casting the movie, he was not in the consideration set. Dhoni is an extremely realistic Biopic and we have been true to that even in our casting."

It might well be an attempt from director Neeraj Pandey to try an cool down the heat surrounding Pakistani actors working in Bollywood.

Ffter the Uri attack, Raj Thackeray-led MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India just ahead of the release of 'MS Dhoni'.

Considering Fawad's role as Kohli was earlier supposed to be in the movie, the removal was necessary otherwise the biopic might not have seen the light of the day.