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Tendulkar published his autobiography in 2014 and there isn’t much that cricket fans don’t know about him.

But Erskine, who has made several acclaimed sports films, insists the docudrama will reveal new aspects about his life.

“You might know the stats, you might know how he performed in certain matches, but you don’t know what happens when he goes off-stage, in his house — his private life, his hopes, dreams, his highs and sorrows,” he told AFP.

“You know little of his family except perhaps their names. This film really is the story of the man, and while cricket is a huge part of his life, it is just one chapter,” Erskine added.

The Brit has made a number of well-received sports biopics including “The Battle of the Sexes”, about a tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, and “Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist”, about Tour de France winner Marco Pantani.

He also made “One Night in Turin”, a documentary about England’s run to the semifinals of the 1990 football World Cup.

“Sachin: A Billion Dreams” is being produced by a company called “200 NotOut”, a reference to the number of Tests Tendulkar played, leaving some movie critics wondering if the film will be little more than hagiography.

“My purpose was to make a film exploring three clear strands — how did this boy become perceived as a …, who is the real man behind the …, how was Sachin’s journey (and iconic status) a result of the massive shifts in Indian culture, cricket and media over the past 30 years.

“The last of these I treat subtly and through imagery so that it’s more felt than thought. And that’s key to understanding the film,” said Erskine.