In a conversation, Raj Shamani mentioned Lalit Modi’s vision of merging cricket with Bollywood to create an entertainment powerhouse. “Bollywood and cricket sell in this country,” explains Modi, emphasizing how the synergy between these two cultural giants revolutionized sports entertainment in India. Raj Shamani probed further by asking a question that has troubled fans for years, “How has Shahrukh Khan been a strong pillar of the IPL since the beginning?”
Lalit Modi elaborated on Shah Rukh Khan’s influence, saying, “Shah Rukh Khan bid for a team even though he didn’t know anything about cricket.” Opening up about Mumbai being the actor’s first choice for the IPL team, he said, “His first choice was Mumbai, but Mukesh Ambani took him. Kolkata was his last choice. But Shah Rukh’s real contribution was in making cricket entertaining. He brought women and children to the stadium, which was important for the success of the IPL. That’s why we had music, cheerleaders and a festival-like atmosphere – he turned it into an event for everyone,” Modi said. .
He also credited Shahrukh for promoting the trend of celebrity involvement. “In the first year, we had to beg or pay celebrities to come. By year two, they had come into their own. After seeing Shahrukh, everyone wanted it – Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, you name it. Shahrukh’s presence made IPL more than just cricket; It became a cultural movement,” he said.