The two on overcoming the ups and downs of their tennis journey in a series, and why they will always be there for each other, despite their differences
It was the summer of 1999. The country was engulfed in the heavy noise of the Cricket World Cup, but two 20-year-olds patiently climbed unseen summits in tennis. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi became the first Indian pair to win a Grand Slam title and for the country’s tennis fans who have long been hungry for a hero, they got not one, but two – “Lee-hash.” It was a moment enough to shake even the most incurable cynic.
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But nothing prepares you for the Everest-today-bottomless-tomorrow motif as well as sports. A glorious present and bright future can become a distant past in the blink of an eye. There was discontent at the bottom of the winning partnership for the ‘Indian Express’ who won two more Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon. Since then, a lot of dirty linen has been washed in public, all leading to an inexplicable divorce. With the speed and venom of a perfect ace, Indian tennis was wide open.
This is the divide between Paes and Bhupathi that is being addressed. break point, an upcoming docu-series, spanning over seven episodes, reveals partnerships both on and off-court.
inspire a generation
But both Paes and Bhupathi disagree. “It is not just division, but it is also about inspiring the next generation and showing them how to be champions. What is the point of being number one in a sport at a time when there was no manual on how to achieve it,” says Paes, joining a virtual conversation with Bhupathi Hindu.
break point Helmed by husband-wife filmmaker duo Nitish Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, they are co-directing a project for the first time. Bhupathi says that the pair were approached on several occasions to narrate their story, but it was this directorial combo that struck a deal. “It didn’t always come down to the right team, the right narrative or the right platform. But when we heard that Nitish and Ashwini were interested, apparently from their pedigree, it piqued our interest. “
From scripting to release, break point Took a year and a half to complete. This involved shooting during the pandemic and multiple lockdowns and a team working inside a tight bubble.
Leander Paes
Why not a full-length sports biopic but a documentary-series? For Paes, 120 minutes is not enough to tell the story of his 20 years. “You’ll probably only see one side of it. Together break point, you will see all the ups and downs of our relationship.” Bhupathi believes that there is a kind of reality that unfolds in a play-drama. “We always have ‘what if’ and ‘why’. This has been the question. So we thought it was better to tell it in the first person and clear the air, rather than have someone play us.”
break point It also includes family, friends, tennis players and rivals of both Sania Mirza and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan. “Twenty years later, it is so irresistible to hear his version of our story. It’s not about right or wrong. It is just about presenting the facts,” says Paes.
But re-living the whole saga and putting a stop to them all was restless for Bhupathi. “It was easy to talk about heights. Talking about shortcomings with multiple cameras and production crew was definitely not ideal for me, but we got through it somehow. Thankfully I had to deal with it all. Got some help at home,” says Bhupathi, who is married to actress and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta.
He rules out the possibility of a biopic in the future. “It took us ten years to get here. Let’s take it one step at a time. If there’s still buzz around Lee-Hash, why not?” Paes, on the other hand, says he has a lot to say about his personal journey, his 1996 Olympic medal win and relationship with his father, Weis Paes. There are some who won a medal in the 1972 Games as part of the Indian hockey team. “I am working on a project along the same lines…”
mental health
The pandemic has prompted the release of several sports docu-dramas that have thrived on streaming platforms. Bhupathi has seen them all: from last Dance To test. In his list is his recently released series Friend and tennis compatriot Mardi Fisch, coincidentally also titled Untold: Breaking Point. Bhupathi laughs, “Yes, we had a good laugh over it, but he quickly turns serious.” The mental health issues dealt with in that series are very important. I wish 20 years ago we had that kind of help. we had to deal with all [of it] all by itself. I’m jealous of today’s kids.”
Mahesh Bhupathi
Paes and Bhupathi last played together more than a decade ago. but they have come close in the process of making break point. “After 2011 we didn’t really have a proper conversation. Now we are talking more often, working on this project with so much depth and passion. The relationship between us has been rekindled and hopefully we can May it continue,” says Bhupathi.
Paes says that he has a true brotherhood with Bhupathi. “We will have differences, but we will always be close. I know that if I ever needed Mahesh, he would be there, and vice versa. If you put us on the tennis court today, magic will happen.”
Break Point will stream on Zee5 from October 1
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