Stills from Tora Mora Katha Heba Chup Chap

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 6: Ace-hockey player and former Indian team captain Dilip Tirkey has donned a new role. The defender-turned-actor, with the release of the film Tora Mora Katha Heba Chup Chap on Friday.

The film is about a poor orphan boy who goes on to become successful in life with the help of a kind-hearted man who adopts him as his younger brother. Dilip plays the supportive elder brother of the protagonist in the film.

“My stint with acting was limited to school drama and a few advertisements. I had never thought of acting in films. But, when his offer came, I took it up as an adventure,” said the usually shy Dilip. “Watching films is one of my favourite pastimes, but acting was a challenge. However, I have no plans to establish myself as a superstar. All I can say is I loved the experience,” he said.

A fan of both Shah Rukh and Aamir Khan, Dilip did not reveal his future projects in films. “I am keeping really busy in my projects of promoting rural and tribal hockey talents these days,” he said.

Tora Mora Katha Heba Chup Chap is directed and produced by Rudranarayan Mohanty and written by Sushant Das. It released with 10 prints across the state. “Dilip is a perfectionist and a very dedicated actor. He gave his best and was open to feedback all the time. He has given a wonderful performance,” said Mohanty.

“We had planned a film on hockey titled Kotiye Swapna, based on Dilip’s life. Since he is busy these days, we will wait now. However, we will try to feature him in a guest appearance in our upcoming film Police Commissioner,” said Das.

Though Dilip is considered a great hockey player, his debut film seems to have shattered the hopes of some of his fans, who were waiting to watch him on the silver screen ever since the film was announced last year.

“Dilip Tirkey is an icon not only for the state, but also for the country. It is sad that the filmmakers have roped in amateur actors opposite him. In fact, he has given a better performance than the other actors in the film,” said Suvendu Dash, who saw the film.

“The music and other features are not as impressive as I had expected. I want to see Dilip Tirkey in a mega project in future,” said Lalit Kumar Rout, another viewer.