Kal Penn Slam Dunks Hollywood With Superfan Nav Bhatia
When one of the most famous South Asian actors Kal Penn decides to show the world who the real Superfan is – we say that’s a slam dunk that Hollywood needs to see! Penn is gearing up to produce and play Toronto Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia on the big screen. The news was first broken by Deadline and was later confirmed on social media by both parties.
“Superfan is going Hollywood!!” Bhatia Tweeted. “Excited to have Kal Penn say yes to playing me in the new biopic!! Thank you Jon, Dan, and Rinku for making this happen. I can’t believe all of this. I’m speechless and I’m honored!!”
Bhatia had attended his first Raptors game in 1995 after the team joined the NBA and became addicted. Rest as they say is history!
He has attended every home game in its history. In 2020, he became the first fan inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
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The biopic will showcase Bhatia’s perseverance against racism and bigotry while working towards becoming one of the country’s leading car salesmen and dealership owners, and ultimately becoming a cultural phenomenon cheering for the Raptors on the courtside.
Nav Bhatia had escaped to Canada from India’s war and destruction and arrived as a penniless Sikh immigrant. He recognizes the important influence the NBA has on underprivileged youth and has since created the Nav Bhatia Superfan Foundation, which provides opportunities for them to attend Raptors games, as well as build basketball courts and camps for kids in Canada and other countries.
Penn shared his passion for the new project. “I’ve been researching and following Nav’s incredible story ever since I saw him at a Raptor’s game the year we started filming Designated Survivor in Toronto,” said Penn to Deadline. “The crowd loves him—to see what a source of pride he is for Canadians—and all basketball fans, really—makes me smile. His story is one of unity, which I’m especially excited and proud to bring to life.”
We will definitely be waiting for this one!
