This Article is From Apr 15, 2014

Ranbir, John, Salman and Abhishek: Bollywood backs India's sporting dreams

Ranbir, John, Salman and Abhishek: Bollywood backs India's sporting dreams

Ranbir Kapoor regularly features in charity football matches held across Mumbai

Highlights

  • Bollywood stars have long been known for their love of sports. Over the years, we have seen our stars play various sports on-screen: Aamir Khan's cycling exploits in Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Saif's Nascar exploits in Taa Raa Rum Pum and Farhan's Flying Sikh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. From SRK's story of redemption in the hockey spectacle Chak De! India to Aamir's mighty blow to the British on the cricketing pitch in Lagaan, sports and cinema have often delighted a country obsessed with both cinema and cricket.
  • Off-screen, Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta and Juhi Chawla gave the Indian Premier League its much-needed star shine as the owners of the teams Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and King XI Punjab. And now, Bollywood stars seem to be investing their time and money in many other sports including football, hockey and even the neglected desi past time of kabaddi.
  • Recently, Ranbir Kapoor became the proud owner of the Mumbai franchise of the upcoming Indian Super League, an eight team football league. Salman Khan and John Abraham also own teams in the league.
  • Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan is now the owner of the Jaipur franchise in the proposed Pro Kabaddi league while last year John bought into the Delhi based hockey team Delhi Waveriders who won the Hockey India League this year.
  • Whatever be the rhyme or reason, Bollywood’s good sports only means better things to come for India.
New Delhi: Bollywood stars have long been known for their love of sports. Over the years, we have seen our stars play various sports on-screen: Aamir Khan's cycling exploits in Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Saif's Nascar exploits in Taa Raa Rum Pum and Farhan's Flying Sikh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. From SRK's story of redemption in the hockey spectacle Chak De! India to Aamir's mighty blow to the British on the cricketing pitch in Lagaan, sports and cinema have often delighted a country obsessed with both cinema and cricket.

Off-screen, Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta and Juhi Chawla gave the Indian Premier League its much-needed star shine as the owners of the teams Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and King XI Punjab. And now, Bollywood stars seem to be investing their time and money in many other sports including football, hockey and even the neglected desi past time of kabaddi.

Recently, Ranbir Kapoor became the proud owner of the Mumbai franchise of the upcoming Indian Super League, an eight team football league. Salman Khan and John Abraham also own teams in the league. (Also read: Ranbir bags the Mumbai franchise of Indian Super League)

Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan is now the owner of the Jaipur franchise in the proposed Pro Kabaddi league while last year John bought into the Delhi based hockey team Delhi Waveriders who won the Hockey India League this year. (Watch: John Abraham's Delhi Waveriders win Indian Hockey League)

Whatever be the rhyme or reason, Bollywood's good sports only means better things to come for India.



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