Cricket and Bollywood go along for a long time, and it is common to see Bollywood celebrities in cricket stadiums when the Indian team is in action. Who can forget the 2011 ODI Cricket World Cup final between the Indian team and the Sri Lankan team, where many Bollywood celebrities were in attendance? This is not the only example, as there have been movies where the central plot revolves around cricket.
In India, there have been numerous examples of Cricketer-Bollywood couples, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who people call Virushka, is the major one among those. Bollywood celebrities’ love for cricket is not hidden from anybody, and that’s why they have invested in franchise cricket teams. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is one such franchise cricket team, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, who is regarded as the King of Bollywood.
How Bollywood’s Celebs’ Popularity Makes Cricket More Popular?
You may wonder why Bollywood celebs invest in franchise cricket teams if they can earn by acting in movies. It is all because of their love for cricket, and they get the opportunity to earn while promoting their favorite sport. Shah Rukh Khan is not the only person to have invested in franchise cricket teams, as there are many like him, such as Juhi Chawla, who is the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders.
Preity Zinta is another Bollywood celeb who is the co-owner of an Indian Premier League franchise called Punjab Kings. She loves cricket and that’s why you can see her in her team’s every single match. You may wonder how Bollywood celebs invest in cricket teams and whether it is really possible to own a cricket team.
How Bollywood Celebs Invest in Cricket Teams?
It is possible and allowed to own a franchise cricket team, and Bollywood celebs don’t do it directly as they invest in cricket teams mainly through co-ownership. This co-ownership is usually done through partnerships with production companies, which serve as the purchasing entities. When they do it through personal investment, they do it with their partners. The Cricket-Bollywood partnership just acts as a booster for both cricket and Bollywood.
You have seen people with no interest in cricket, but they still come to watch cricket matches. Do you know the reason that makes them visit the cricket stadiums? The answer is to see their favorite Bollywood stars who are there to support their team. Let’s shed light on some of the big names owning franchise cricket teams.
Bollywood Stars Who Co-Own a Cricket Franchise
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Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh is the most popular Indian Bollywood star who has featured many times on the Forbes list of the wealthiest stars. He is the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which is one of the teams that plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This team not only entertains their fans through their cricket but also allows them to earn, which is by wagering on the best betting sites on different aspects of the cricket sport.
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Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is another Bollywood celebrity who is the co-owner of an IPL team called Punjab Kings. She loves cricket, and that’s what forced her to buy a stake in an IPL team. Preity is a regular visitor to each of the matches her team plays, and many fans just come to watch her.
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Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is also the co-owner of an IPL team called Kolkata Knight Riders alongside Shah Rukh Khan. You have seen her cheering for KKR, especially when Shah Rukh Khan is not there. She is a famous Bollywood star of her time, having given many hits.
How do Bollywood Celebs’ Investments in Cricket Franchises Influence their Image?
As said, both cricket and Bollywood are loved in India, and Bollywood stars’ investments in cricket franchises just add to their fan-following, as cricket fans just become these Bollywood stars’ fans too. Those fans can later become Bollywood fans too, and this just helps Bollywood stars in their film marketing without spending a penny on movie promotion.
How the Cricket Investments by Bollywood Celebs Reflect the Synergy of Bollywood + Cricket?
The co-owning of franchises by Bollywood celebs makes the cricket matches more than a sport. The cricket match just becomes an event backed by emotions, expectation, and speculation of which team is going to win. The fans just come to stadiums to watch their favorite cricket stars and Bollywood stars.
The fans are not just entertained, as they also get the opportunity to earn just by wagering on the players’ and teams’ performances. Cricket fans just love this Bollywood + Cricket synergy, which benefits all, including the team owners and fans.
Conclusion:
Cricket and Bollywood have a connection with each other, as both cricketers and Bollywood stars love watching each other’s work. Bollywood celebs’ presence and investment in a cricket franchise is a great example of their love for cricket. Cricketers, too, are fans of Bollywood stars and their movies. In this post, we have discussed how Bollywood stars’ cricket investments make cricket more popular.
Additionally, we have discussed Bollywood stars’ investments in cricket franchises and how those investments reflect the synergy of Bollywood and cricket.