The 'clash of titans' between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup is set for September 14. While the off-field atmosphere remains tense, bygone players reminisce about the thrill and warmth of past relationships. Former Pakistani opener Mohsin Khan recalls an era where cricket built bridges of love and friendship.
In that memorable time, Mohsin faced cricket legends like Dennis Lillee and Kapil Dev on the field while standing shoulder to shoulder with Bollywood icons Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna on Mumbai's silver screen. His life is an enchanting tale balancing cricket and Bollywood, a narrative filled with runs, records, and the cinematic dazzle of love with Reena Roy.
Reena Roy and Mohsin: A Union of Two Worlds
In an insightful conversation with PTI, the 70-year-old Mohsin reminisces, 'In 1979, upon my first visit to India, Bollywood offers soon followed. People urged me, just stay for 20 days, and we'll finalize your role. But my full attention was dedicated to cricket.'
During this time, he met Reena Roy, then a shining star of Hindi cinema. Gradually, this connection transcended friendship, culminating in marriage. Mohsin fondly recalls, 'Dharam Ji was sweet, Vinod my friend, but Reena's eyes in Mumbai truly felt like home.'
The Journey from Pitch to Screen
Alongside cricket, cinema became Mohsin's second passion. While working on films like 'Batwara,' director JP Dutta inspired him with narrative advice, asking, 'Imagine scoring a century, yet Pakistan loses to India. How would that feel?' Mohsin animatedly conveyed the scene through this lens. He even scored a nomination for the Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Award for this very film, alongside stalwarts like Nana Patekar and Anupam Kher.
Post-marriage, Mohsin spent more time in Mumbai than Karachi. This cricketer-actress union became the talk of many newspapers and magazines. However, as not every cinematic story ends happily, this relationship also faced the test of time.
Separation and Transformation…
Despite the marriage to Reena Roy ending, Mohsin speaks empathetically about his daughter. He shares, 'She witnessed both Pakistan and Mumbai. Though my path diverged from Reena's, my daughter remains my greatest treasure. She completed her schooling in Pakistan and higher education in Mumbai. She stays with her mother, but I'm ever-present in her life.'
Memorable Moments on the Field
Mohsin's cricket journey was marked by notable achievements. Representing Pakistan in 48 Tests and 75 ODIs, he made history by becoming the first Pakistani batsman to score 1000 runs in a calendar year in 1982.
The pride of being the first Pakistani to hit a double century at Lord's forever beams on his face. His career saw brilliant achievements, such as consecutive centuries against Australia on their turf in December 1983, against the formidable Dennis Lillee.
Source: aajtak
Mohsin remarks, 'Achieving this against one of the finest fast bowlers of my time felt gratifying. My style perfectly suited pace and bounce-friendly pitches.' His fondest match remains the Lahore Test, where he scored an unbeaten 101 against India, describing it as, 'one of my favorite matches'.
Bond with Indian Cricketers
Playing cricket against India remains a cherished memory for Mohsin. He recalls, 'Playing in India and against India was always exhilarating. Jimmy (Mohinder Amarnath) became a close friend. In our era, aggression existed, but without disrespect.'
Favorite Cricketers -
When asked about his greatest influences, he confidently lists his favorites. 'Among bowlers, Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee, Malcolm Marshall, and Kapil Dev were my top picks. For batsmen, my heroes were Sunil Gavaskar, Vivian Richards, Greg Chappell, and Majid Khan.'
