Documentary on the life and times of Indian tennis star/commentator Vijay Amritraj in the works

Many Tennis fans from India are likely to recall Vijay Amritraj as the iconic voice on air during the Wimbledon broadcast. Partnered by Alan Wilkins, the Chennai-born former Tennis player provided great insights into the game in his quintessential demeanor, one that saw him brim with charm and candor in equal measure, and amassed many fans over the years. Now, according to the latest reports, Vijay Amritraj’s career as a tennis player and an actor will be chronicled in an official documentary that is currently in the works.

According to Deadline, the untitled project is a joint production venture of Calabasas Films + Media and Sterling Road Films with Sami Khan of St. Louis Superman slated to direct it. The documentary will be a detailed account of Vijay Amritraj’s early years in Chennai and his battles with health issues, his rise to prominence as a tennis superstar on the global circuit, and the brief but memorable stint as an actor.

His tennis career spanned close to two decades and saw him compete with the best during his prime. Amritraj’s first major win came in 1974 when he defeated Bjorn Borg in the second round of the US Open and later teamed up with older brother Anand Amritraj to represent India at the 1974 Davis Cup. The duo would reach the finals after defeating the Soviet Union in the semifinals but refused to travel to South Africa to play the hosts and fellow finalists due to their opposition to the apartheid policies in the country. South Africa were awarded the tournament but many regard the Indian boycott to be a watershed moment. Vijay Amritraj was also part of the 1987 Davis Cup team.

Vijay Amritraj has two brothers, Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj (younger brother) who were recognized international tennis players in their own rights. Following his tennis career, Ashok Amritraj ventured into film production and has produced over 100 films over the past 35 years. He is currently the CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment Group and has worked with major Hollywood superstars such as Robert De Niro, Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, and Dwayne Johnson.