Agni Chopra caught everyone’s attention after he became the most expensive player in the Major League Cricket (MLC) draft for MI New York, and his story is certainly interesting. Anupama Chopra, celebrated film critic and journalist, recently found herself in a new role, mother to one of the most sought-after players in MLC. In an exclusive chat with RevSportz, Anupama opened up about Agni’s passion for cricket, her journey as a mother watching him grow, and the challenges that come with his chosen career path.
For a family deeply immersed in cinema, Agni’s love for cricket came as a surprise. “When he was around five years old, he told me, ‘I need to play cricket,’” Anupama recalled. “It was strange because I have no knowledge or deep interest in the game. Our lives at home revolved around movies. So it was just out of the blue when he said that he wanted to play cricket. I remember taking him to Shivaji Park because that was the only place where a five-year-old would be allowed to get on the field and knock a ball around. It was just something in him from a very young age.”
Anupama admits that, unlike seasoned cricketing parents, she lacks the technical expertise to analyse his game. However, she has learned to observe his temperament. “Truthfully, I don’t know a lot about the game, so I have no ability to watch him and judge if he’s getting better or worse,” she says. “He’s very Zen-like. Even when he does well, there isn’t great emotion, and when he does badly, there isn’t any either. That detachment is crucial in sport.”
When asked about whether she sees any similarities between the stories of struggle her husband, Vidhu, portrays on the big screen and her son’s journey in sports, she acknowledged that unlike many young cricketers who fight against significant financial or social odds, Agni comes from a background of privilege.
“Agni has been born into great privilege, and he should always be grateful for that,” said Anupama. “Those basic struggles of roti, kapda, makaan, he doesn’t have. But that other struggle—of making yourself, of just showing up, day after day—that’s a big one.
“It would be unfair to compare his struggle to those who have had to fight for roti, kapda, makaan. But the struggle to make a place for yourself in the most competitive sport in this country is real. The discipline to show up every day, even when you don’t get picked, even when there’s no light at the end of the tunnel—that’s a different kind of battle.”
She compared her son’s dedication to that of her husband, likening the journey to that of the uncertainty of filmmaking.
“When Vinod makes a film, you have no idea how it will turn out,” she explains. “You just believe and keep going. That’s the parallel I see with Agni—keeping the faith and putting in the work, even when you don’t know where it will lead.”
The highs and lows of sport can be difficult to navigate, especially for a mother. Yet, Anupama has found guidance in her own life experiences. She recalls how, when Vinod’s film Kareeb didn’t perform well at the box office, he told her, “Don’t get attached. It’s not about the end goal; it’s about the joy of doing it at all.”
She applies the same philosophy to Agni’s career. “I’m learning from him—to stay in the moment, to not get too attached to either success or failure,” she says. “What matters is the work he puts in. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. That’s beyond our control.”
Despite her efforts to remain detached from the results, some moments are simply too big to be understated—The MI New York draft pick was naturally one such occasion. “It was a big celebratory moment,” Anupama admits with a laugh. “I’m not Zen at all—he is! It’s a wonderful opportunity, a new journey for him, and we’re all just so excited.”
As Agni Chopra steps on to the international stage but his mother, Anupama continues to stand on the sidelines applauding his journey while also ensuring he remains grounded in gratitude.
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