The Women’s Premier League (WPL) team, UP Warriorz (UPW) have launched a campaign, “Papa ki Warriorz,” celebrating fathers who support their daughters’ dreams and challenge gender stereotypes.
The film has been directed by Uzher Khan and produced by Surfboard Films. The initiative aims to dispel preconceptions that hold women behind, particularly those following goals in sports. It emphasises the importance of fathers and family support for females who pursue their aspirations. Women have long faced challenges, whether emotional, social, or physical. However, the ad hopes to emphasise through clear storytelling that these hurdles have made women stronger and more empowered.
While women in sports were shunned until a few years ago, WPL and UP Warriorz have helped alter the tide. The journey has been nothing short of spectacular, as female athletes and leaders have smashed numerous glass barriers, all with the unflinching support of their fathers and families.
The powerful campaign depicts UP Warriorz athletes Deepti Sharma, Saima Thakor, Kiran Navgire, Uma Chetry, and Vrinda Dinesh, who are blasting it out in training and sending a message to those who questioned them and their opponents during WPL season 3.
On the campaign, Jinisha Sharma, Director, Capri Sports, said, “Papa ki Warriorz is personal—not just for me, but for every player on this team. We’ve all had our fathers shape our journeys, stand by us, and believe in us when others doubted. Society is still patriarchal, but allyship matters, and many of our fathers have been our biggest allies. ‘Papa ki Pari’ has often been seen as a dismissive label, implying entitlement. But we’re flipping that. If it means knowing what we want and going after it with everything we have, then we wear it with pride. We’ve worked for this, we’ve earned this, and we belong here.”
UP Warriorz is all set to begin their WPL Season 3 campaign against Gujarat Giants in Vadodara on February 16. Furthermore, the unit will also play its first home game at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow this season. UP Warriorz will play Gujarat Giants on March 3, Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 6, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 8.