Bollywood Showtime August 2014 | Page 67

Sports Sohail Khan: Salman’s younger brother is the owner of a Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) team, Mumbai Heroes. Akshay Kumar: The ace actor-producer and a sports enthusiast also owns a team in the World Kabaddi League. A personal venture headed by Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, World Kabaddi League will be played across four continents in countries such as UK, USA, Canada, UAE and India, starting August 9 at London. Professional Sports teams owned by Bollywood Celebrities WRITTEN BY Jaya Trivedi What’s common between Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Nagarjuna, Yo Yo Honey Singh and Akshay Kumar? All these actors are owners of different franchises for different sports. Yo Yo Honey Singh: Star rapper, Yo Yo Honey Singh also bought a team in the World Kabbadi League, which is scheduled to be held in five different countries from August to December in 2014. The team has been named Yo Yo Tigers as he feels it will help people relate to him. Abhishek Bachchan: Though sports-Bollywood connection began with Indian Premiere League (IPL), over the years it has spread to other sports, including football, hockey, kabaddi and badminton. Junior Bachchan bought the Jaipur team in the Pro Kabaddi League, which begins on July 26. Abhishek has also expressed his desire of starting a Kabaddi league for women earlier this year. On Wednesday, Sonakshi Sinha joined the league and launched her own team at the World Kabaddi League. The Dabangg girl of Bollywood has bought the UK team and has named it the ‘United Kings’. Ranbir Kapoor: We give you a list of our Bollywood A-listers who have invested in different teams in different sports tournament. Ranbir won the bid for Mumbai along with Bimal Parekh, a chartered accountant, for the Indian Soccers League that will begin this September. Shah Rukh Khan: Right from the time Kolkata Knight Riders representing Kolkata was constituted for the IPL, the team is owned by Shahrukh Khan along with actress Juhi Chawla as a partner. Preity Zinta: Bollywood dimpled girl has been the co-owner of the T20 tournament’s team, Kings XI Punjab, with ex-flameNess Wadia since 2008. Salman Khan: John Abraham: Bollywood actor Salman Khan teamed up with Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan of the Wadhawan Group to buy the franchise of Pune in the upcoming Indian Soccers League. The Bollywood hunk had shown interest in both hockey and football. While John owned Delhi Waveriders in HIL, the actor-producer has bought franchise of Guwahati in the Indian Soccers League, which he co-owns with Shillong Lajong, an I-league team. Nagarjuna: Actor Nagarjuna co-owned Mumbai Masters in the Indian Badminton League along with former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. August 2014 67