Virat Kohli used to watch my Movie to Relax, says Film Director Priyadarshan

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Priyadarshan, the undisputed king of Indian screen laughs with over four decades of hit comedies, now admits he's creatively exhausted with the genre.

And the legendary film director has said that the likes of Virat Kohli and others used to relax watching his comedy films before matches.

Past flops like Dhol (2007) and Khatta Meetha (2010) left emotional scars, though OTT redemption has brought joy, and Priyadarshan revealed Kohli used to enjoy his movie.

"I loved both these films, but they didn't work in theatres. But thanks to OTT, people are finally enjoying these films now. When I made Dhol, I really thought the film would do well. Now I am very happy when I see people like Virat Kohli and others say they watch Dhol before their cricket matches to relax. They even quote the dialogues from the movie to each other."

Though Kohli hasn't publicly confirmed his fandom, their paths crossed in an IPL ad for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, starring Kohli alongside Chris Gayle and Shane Watson. Priyadarshan was so struck by Kohli's natural flair that he suggested the cricketer pursue acting.

Virat Kohli is set to make his highly anticipated return for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2026 season, marking his 19th campaign with the franchise. Fresh off RCB's maiden IPL title in 2025, where Kohli starred with 657 runs. The 37-year-old batting maestro has been training intensely, fueling excitement among fans as the defending champions aim for back-to-back triumphs.

RCB open IPL 2026 Campaign on March 28

RCB's season opener pits them against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28, 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The defending champions will play five matches at the Chinnaswamy this season, while the other two matches will be hosted in Raipur.