In a conversation, Raj Shamani draws out Lalit Modi’s vision of fusing cricket with Bollywood to create an entertainment powerhouse. “Bollywood and cricket sell in this country,” Modi explains, emphasizing how the synergy between these two cultural giants revolutionized sports entertainment in India. Raj Shamani, probed further, asking the one question that has intrigued fans for years, “How Shah Rukh Khan has been a strong pillar of IPL since the beginning?”
Lalit Modi elaborated on Shah Rukh Khan’s influence, “Shah Rukh Khan bid for a team, even though he didn’t know anything about cricket.” Opening up on the actor’s first choice being Mumbai for his IPL team, he said, “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,” Modi said.
He also credited SRK for sparking a trend of celebrity involvement. “In year one, we had to beg or pay celebrities to come. By year two, they came on their own. After seeing Shah Rukh, everyone wanted in – 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 said.
