From Shah Rukh Khan To John Abraham: Indian Celebrities Who Own Sports Teams
From Shah Rukh Khan to John Abraham, here is the list of Indian celebrities who own sports teams.
Movies and sports are two true loves for the Indian audience, and hence, it is no surprise that celebrities in these two aspects, enjoy superstardom in India. Be it Virat Kohli, Shah Rukh Khan, Rohit Sharma, Sunil Chhetri, PV Sindhu, Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone, or Ranbir Kapoor, each one of these celebrities enjoys a massive fan following in India. You would also often find movie stars watching a sports game, and the audience breaks into huge applause whenever they spot their favourite celebrities inside a stadium.
In a country where sports, especially cricket is nothing less than a religion, it comes as no surprise that Indian movie stars with their immense weight and might, continue to venture into sporting arenas, by owning different teams in professional sports leagues such as Indian Premier League (IPL), Indian Super League (ISL), and Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), among others.
Many actors continue to promote or endorse teams or sports leagues. For example, Akshay Kumar promoted Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the inaugural season of IPL. However, certain movie stars and celebrities have taken their passion for sports to the next level by becoming team owners.
Actors owning sports teams symbolises how the world of entertainment and sports can come together and co-exist to transcend boundaries and enthrall the worldwide audience. Through this, you also realise that beyond the glitz and glamour of showbiz, these actors have a deep-seated passion and love for sports and a genuine commitment to promoting excellence both on and off the field.
Most of these professional leagues we have mentioned above, aim to promote young talent across sports in India, and this investment of actors, shows how they have a knack for promoting homegrown talent, and helping the sporting ecosystem throughout the country.
In this article, we will be exploring Indian celebrities who have made significant investments in the sporting arena.
Without further ado, here is the list:
Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla - Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL)
Arguably the biggest superstar India has ever produced, Shah Rukh Khan, also known as the 'Badshah of Bollywood' and 'King Khan', is the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Alongside actress Juhi Chawla and her spouse Jay Mehta, SRK purchased the team in 2008 for a whopping price of Rs 570 crore, as per GQ India. Under SRK and Juhi Chawla's ownership, KKR has experienced two IPL triumphs (2012 and 2014), and the Kolkata-based team remains one of the most popular franchises in the IPL, boasting of a massive fan following across the globe.
After becoming the owner of KKR, King Khan was also named as the brand ambassador of Bengal, and this announcement was made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Over the years, SRK has been cheering for KKR during IPL matches, and the crowd at Eden Gardens always breaks out in huge applause whenever the face of SRK is shown on the big screen.
SRK is also known to be a great motivator, and back in 2020, Shubman Gill who is now the captain of Gujarat Titans, had spoken about how SRK motivated him when he was a part of the KKR setup. In an interview with the news agency, Shubman Gill said, "I think when I first met him (SRK), and I think I was about to make my IPL debut in that match, he just came and told me ‘just go out there and express yourself’. For any youngster, if your owner of the team is telling you to express yourself without having the fear of being dropped or getting dropped. It’s a really big thing," he said.
Apart from KKR, SRK, and Juhi Chawla are also the co-owners of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20), Los Angeles Knight Riders (MCL), and Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL).
2. Preity Zinta - Punjab Kings (IPL)
Preity Zinta, known for versatile acting choices, is the co-owner of the Punjab Kings franchise in the IPL. Alongside businessmen Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, and Karan Paul. Preity Zinta bought the team in 2008, making her one of the few female owners in the male-dominated world of sports team ownership. Punjab Kings are yet to win an IPL title, but Zinta has never failed to cheer for her team. She is a familiar face at Punjab Kings matches, often seen cheering the franchise from the stands.
Preity Zinta also actively engages with fans on social media, participates in promotional events, and lends her star power to increase the team's brand image.
Did you know there was a time when Preity Zinta made aloo paranthas for every squad member of Punjab Kings? During an interview with Star Sports, the anchor asked the actress, "Who would have thought Preity Zinta would make aloo parathas for her team? I think they have stopped eating aloo paratha after that."
To this, the actress responded by saying, "First time I realised, how much do the boys eat. We were in South Africa, and they served not a good all paratha. Then I told them, 'I will teach you to make all paratha'. Seeing that, the boys asked if I can make all paranthas for them. I told them that, will make aloo parathas if they win the next match. They won it. Then I made 120 aloo parathas. After that, I have stopped making aloo parathas."
3. Abhishek Bachchan - Jaipur Pink Panthers (Pro Kabaddi League) and Chennaiyin FC (ISL)
Abhishek Bachchan, the son of megastar Amitabh Bachchan, ventured into the realm of sports team ownership with the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Founded in 2014, the Jaipur Pink Panthers won the inaugural season of the PKL under Abhishek Bachchan's ownership, and this helped the team establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of kabaddi.
Jaipur Pink Panthers is not the only sports team that Abhishek Bachchan owns. He also owns a stake in the two-time-winners ISL team Chennaiyin FC. "I love going to the movies, and that is possibly the biggest contribution to my becoming an actor. I am a huge kabaddi and football fan and that is the reason for me to get involved in the sport," Abhishek Bachchan had told Hindu Business Line.
4. Ranbir Kapoor - Mumbai City FC (Indian Super League)
Ranbir Kapoor, hailed as one of Bollywood's most talented actors, ventured into sports team ownership with Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). The actor ended up acquiring a major stake in the football club in 2014. For the unversed, Ranbir Kapoor owning a football team came as a surprise to no one, as his fans and followers know that he is an ardent football and FC Barcelona supporter.
Ranbir Kapoor has spoken in the past about how he wants to "nurture grassroots talent, promote youth development programs, and foster a culture of footballing excellence in Mumbai". Mumbai City FC have won the ISL only once, and in the ongoing season, the side is placed at the second spot in the league standings.
"Every night before I sleep, I imagine myself on a football field. I don't imagine myself on a movie set or being an actor or a star, I only imagine myself being a football player wearing a No 8 jersey. I dream of passing the ball to Messi and Iniesta. Sometimes I dream of playing for Mumbai City FC and sometimes for the All-Stars Club," Ranbir Kapoor had said earlier, during an Instagram Live session.
5. John Abraham - Northeast United FC (Indian Super League)
John Abraham, who gave an acclaimed performance as the main antagonist in Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Pathaan', is the owner of Northeast United FC in the Indian Super League. Abraham's investment in the football club holds personal significance, as he aims to promote the region's rich footballing talent and provide young players with a platform to showcase their skills. In several interviews, the actor has been a vocal advocate for the development of football infrastructure in the northeastern states.
6. Taapsee Pannu - Pune 7 Aces (Premier Badminton League)
If you look at the filmography of Taapsee Pannu, you will find many movies in which Taapsee Pannu has played the role of a sports personality or a fictional character, who takes up the challenge of playing a sport. She has starred in sports-related projects like 'Rashmi Rocket', 'Saand Ki Aankh', 'Soorma', and 'Shabaash Mithu'. In 'Shabaash Mithu', Taapsee Pannu played the role of former India women's cricket team captain, Mithali Raj.
The actress is the owner of the Premier Badminton League team Pune 7 Aces. “I love sports and always feel if I wasn’t an actor, I would’ve aspired to become a sportsperson," Taapsee Pannu had told News18 in an earlier interview.
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