The first-look poster of Dada – The Sourav Ganguly Story, starring Rajkummar Rao as former India captain Sourav Ganguly, has sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Released on Ganguly’s birthday, the poster was expected to generate excitement for the much-awaited biopic but instead became the subject of widespread trolling, with many users questioning its design and visual quality.
The poster recreates one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history—Sourav Ganguly celebrating India’s memorable NatWest Series triumph at Lord’s by waving his Team India jersey from the balcony. Rajkummar Rao is seen recreating the legendary celebration, with the Indian tricolour featured prominently in the background as a tribute to the former captain’s historic achievement.
However, soon after its release, social media platforms, particularly Reddit, Instagram and X, were flooded with critical reactions. Several users described the poster as resembling “bad Photoshop,” while others questioned whether artificial intelligence had been used in its creation. Many fans expressed disappointment, saying the visuals looked poorly composed and lacked the quality expected from a major Bollywood biopic.
Some netizens even claimed the poster appeared fan-made rather than an official promotional image, with comments suggesting that amateur AI tools could have produced a better result. Others criticised the facial expressions and editing, calling the artwork “embarrassing” and “unconvincing.” The poster has since become one of the most discussed topics among movie and cricket fans online.
Despite the backlash, Sourav Ganguly himself responded positively to the first look. The former Indian captain described it as the “best birthday gift ever” and expressed his excitement about seeing Rajkummar Rao portray him on the big screen. Ganguly also said he was looking forward to watching the actor recreate his famous cover drive during the film.
The makers of Dada – The Sourav Ganguly Story have not yet responded to the criticism surrounding the poster. Alongside the first look, the production team announced that the biographical drama is scheduled to release in theatres on May 14, 2027.
While the poster has divided opinions, anticipation for the film remains high, with audiences eager to see Rajkummar Rao bring the life and cricketing journey of one of India’s most celebrated captains to the silver screen.