After shining as a star on the turf, India's hockey sensation Dilip Tirkey is all set to appear on the silver screen in a new innings.
The suave, soft-spoken and quiet former Indian hockey captain has agreed to make his acting debut in an Oriya film -Toro Moro Katha Heba Chup Chap (You and me will talk silently), likely to be released during Dusshera this year.
The 33-year-old tribal talent from Orissa's Sundargarh district represnted the country in three Olympics but is not very confident of acting.
"Acting is totally new for me. This is altogehter a different experience. However, the director of the film has given me enough confidence," Dilip, who recently announced his retirement from international hockey, said.
Film director R N Mohanty, who had been watching Dilip since a long time said: "The hockey player had elements of acting. Those talents need to be explored."
Dilip would perform the role of an elder brother, a symbol of sacrifice in the film where a teashop owner could become chief minister of the state.