Home » News » Shah Rukh Khan didn't want to buy KKR but this IPL team - Lalit Modi makes surprising revelation
Shah Rukh Khan didn't want to buy KKR but this IPL team - Lalit Modi makes surprising revelation
Shah Rukh Khan has become the brand ambassador for IPL and now Lalit Modi talks about his influence on the yearly event.
Nov 23, 2024
Shah Rukh Khan Did Not Want To By KKR Initially
We are just a few months away from the madness that will unfold in the stadiums of India as teams come together to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing states and celebrities who own them. Over the years, if there’s one actor who has become synonymous with the IPL, it’s Shah Rukh Khan. His presence amplifies the event’s popularity and scale. As the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the team that won its first league title last year, SRK has added immense value to the tournament. But did you know that Shah Rukh initially didn’t want to buy KKR?
Shah Rukh Khan Did Not Want to Buy KKR Initially
Lalit Modi recently opened up about various aspects of the IPL and its cultural significance, which has kept it relevant for over a decade. During a conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Modi revealed that when the IPL was just taking shape, he approached his childhood friend Shah Rukh Khan to join the venture. Interestingly, SRK’s first choice was not Kolkata but Mumbai. However, since Mumbai Indians was already owned by Mukesh Ambani, Shah Rukh eventually settled for KKR—and the rest, as they say, is history.
“I have always been a part of the glamor,” Lalit Modi shared. “Shah Rukh Khan went to school with me; we are school friends. When I approached him for cricket, I didn’t know much about it myself, but I told him, ‘I just want you to be a part of it.’ He was the number one pillar for the IPL.”
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Shah Rukh Khan’s Influence on IPL
Modi highlighted Shah Rukh Khan’s role in transforming cricket into entertainment, saying, “Shah Rukh Khan bid for a team, even though he didn’t know anything about cricket. His first choice was Mumbai, but Mukesh Ambani took that. Kolkata was his eventual pick. But Shah Rukh’s real contribution was in making cricket entertaining. He brought women and children into the stadiums, which was critical for IPL’s success. That’s why we had music, cheerleaders, and a festival-like atmosphere—he turned it into an event for everyone.”
Lalit Modi went on to credit Shah Rukh Khan for sparking the trend of celebrity involvement in the IPL. He recalled how, in the first year, they had to beg or pay celebrities to attend games. By the second season, however, celebrities began coming on their own. “After Shah Rukh Khan, everyone wanted to be a part of it—Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, you name it. Shah Rukh’s presence turned the IPL into more than just cricket; it became a cultural movement,” he added.
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