MUMBAI: Mahesh Bhatt has joined the ranks of filmmakers picking up sports themes for their films.

The first from the Bhatt stable in this genre will be a film on cricket.

Acknowledges Bhatt, “I am planning a film on the darker side of cricket, including the big betting. The recent death of Bob Woolmer made me sit up and notice these aspects of the sport.”

Vishesh Films is currently gearing up to release its latest film Awaarapan on 29 June, 2007 worldwide.

Some of the other sports based films that one will get to see are Yash Raj Films’ Chak De! India starring Shah Rukh Khan, UTV Motion Pictures’ Goal starring John Abraham and Bipasha Basu and Pritish Nandy Communications’ Meerabai Not Out amongst others.