Former India opener Virender Sehwag has spent much of his public life being remembered for fearless batting, Test triple-centuries and a style that changed perceptions of how an opening batter could play. Now, he says another part of his life deserves space on screen if his story is ever turned into a film: his love story. Speaking ahead of his debut as host of Rise & Fall 2, Sehwag said he would be open to a biopic and believes his relationship with wife Aarti Ahlawat should form an important part of it. Asked whether he wanted his life adapted for cinema, the former cricketer responded positively and said his love story was something he would definitely want included.

The conversation comes as Sehwag begins an unexpected new chapter away from commentary boxes and cricket grounds. The former India star will host the second season of the reality show, which premieres on September 26.

Virender Sehwag Says His Love Story Deserves a Place in His Biopic

For someone whose cricketing achievements could easily fill an entire film, Virender Sehwag appears equally interested in showing audiences the personal side of his journey. In his Hindustan Times interview, he said he would welcome the idea of a biopic and was clear about one element he considered essential: his love story. Sehwag did not name an actor he wants to portray him. Instead, he said that decision should be left to the producer and director, adding that there are plenty of capable actors today.

No filmmaker has yet formally announced a Sehwag biopic, meaning his comments should be understood as what he would like to see if such a project is eventually developed. That distinction is important. His remarks have sparked fresh interest in a possible cricket film, but there is currently no confirmed production, casting announcement or release timeline.

How Sehwag and Aarti Ahlawat’s Story Began

Sehwag and Aarti Ahlawat knew each other from childhood. According to previous Hindustan Times reporting, the two first met at a family wedding when Sehwag was seven and Aarti was five. Their friendship developed over the years before eventually becoming a romantic relationship. Sehwag proposed when he was around 21, and they married on April 22, 2004.

The wedding was held in New Delhi at the official residence of late political leader Arun Jaitley. The couple later welcomed two sons, Aryavir and Vedant. Their relationship has been the subject of separation speculation since early 2025, with reports claiming they had been living apart. Neither Sehwag nor Aarti has publicly confirmed a separation, and the latest interview does not provide a new confirmation on their marital status. When asked about online discussion surrounding his personal life, Sehwag said he generally avoids reading what is written about him on social media.

Rise & Fall 2 Gives Sehwag a Completely Different Challenge

The former opener’s move into Rise & Fall 2 is notable because he initially did not believe hosting entertainment television suited him. Sehwag told Hindustan Times that he first declined even an interaction related to the programme because he thought hosting something unrelated to cricket would be difficult. His view changed after meeting the makers and understanding that they wanted him to bring his natural personality rather than imitate a conventional television presenter.

His sons were apparently surprised too. That uncertainty makes the new assignment interesting. Sehwag has spent years speaking publicly through commentary, interviews and cricket analysis, but controlling a competitive reality show involving personalities, arguments and strategic decisions requires a different skill set. The second season replaces first-season host Ashneer Grover with Sehwag.

What Is Rise & Fall 2?

The programme places 15 celebrity contestants inside a social hierarchy split between “Rulers” and “Workers”. Rulers live in a more comfortable penthouse and receive greater power, while Workers stay in a basement with fewer privileges. Alliances, tasks and strategic decisions can change where participants sit within that hierarchy. Season 2 also introduces greater audience participation.

Viewers were given an opportunity before the premiere to assign values to contestants, helping influence who begins as a Ruler and who starts as a Worker. The voting mechanism is one of the major changes from the first season. The reality show begins streaming on September 26 through MX Player and Prime Video. For Sehwag, the format offers something completely removed from the structured world of international sport.

Virender Sehwag Cricket Career Could Easily Carry a Biopic on Its Own

Even without his personal story, the Virender Sehwag Cricket Career contains more than enough material for a sports film. The ICC Hall of Famer played 104 Tests, scoring 8,586 runs at an average of 49.34. He also represented India in 251 ODIs, scoring 8,273 runs, and played 19 T20 internationals. His batting style was particularly unusual in Test cricket. Where conventional openers were often expected to defend against the new ball and slowly build an innings, Sehwag attacked from the beginning. That approach helped him score 23 Test centuries while maintaining an extraordinary scoring rate.

His greatest Test innings came against South Africa in Chennai in 2008, when he scored 319, which remains the highest individual Test score by an Indian batter. He is also one of the few players in cricket history to have scored two Test triple-centuries.

The 219 That Changed ODI History

Another obvious cinematic chapter from the Virender Sehwag Cricket Career would be his 219 against the West Indies in Indore in December 2011. Sehwag became only the second batter at the time to score an ODI double-century, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s then-record score of 200. His 219 came from 149 balls and contained 25 fours and seven sixes. India finished with 418/5.

Sehwag was also an important member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, scoring 380 runs during the tournament. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2023.

A film covering his career would therefore have several natural sporting peaks: his rise from Najafgarh, international breakthrough, triple-centuries, ODI record, World Cup triumph and eventual retirement. His latest comments suggest he would want the film to go beyond those numbers.

Sehwag Does Not Want His Sons Judged Only by His Records

The interview also touched on fatherhood. Both Aryavir and Vedant are pursuing cricket, which inevitably brings comparisons with their father. Sehwag acknowledged that carrying his surname can create opportunities but also considerable pressure. He does not expect either son to reproduce his achievements and used Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun as an example of why children of great players should be allowed to follow different sporting paths.

His older son Aryavir has already attracted attention in age-group cricket and recently represented India Under-19 against Australia Under-19. Sehwag’s position appears straightforward: his sons should focus on playing because they enjoy the game rather than attempting to recreate his career.

From Opening Batter to Entertainment Host

The transition to television hosting adds another unexpected chapter to Sehwag’s public life. As a cricketer, his appeal came partly from unpredictability. He could attack elite fast bowlers from the opening over and often appeared unconcerned by conventional batting rules. That personality later translated successfully into commentary and social media, where his humour became almost as recognisable as his batting.

The makers of the new programme appear to be relying on that same personality rather than turning him into a traditional presenter. Whether that approach works will become clearer once the season begins.