Leggie Anil Kumble would soon be seen on celluloid weaving magic on a different wicket. Though cricketers like Sandip Patil, Ajay Jadeja and others have made it to the silver screen earlier, Anil Kumble’s cinema debut is seen as very significant by his fans.

Kumble would don the greasepaint in the Bollywood film, titled Meerabai Not Out. The film will have Mandira Bedi in the title role along with Anupam Kher, Mahesh Manjrekar and Eijaz Khan. Meerabai Not Out is produced by Pritish Nandy and directed by award winning Marathi director Chandrakant Kulkarni. To be made under the banner of Pritish Nandy Communications, the film will also have Mandira's husband Raj Kaushal, who had recently directed Anthony Kaun Hai, as the line producer.

Pritish Nandy Communications plans to get the movie on to the floors by the end of December this year in Mumbai.

Anil Kumble, however, would not be doing the lead role in the movie. Kumble’s will in fact be a cameo in the movie. The film is all about cricket and the story revolves around an avid cricket fan and Mandira who plays Meerabai Not Out is the passionate cricket fan, said reports.

The film is scheduled to be complete by end of January 2007. The release date has already been finalized and will hit the screen just ahead of the World Cup.

So even before the first ball of the World Cup is bowled, fans would get to see Anil Kumble in action. On a different, glamourous wicket, though.