Lalit Modi revealed that Shah Rukh Khan initially wanted to buy Mumbai Indians but chose Kolkata Knight Riders after Mukesh Ambani secured Mumbai.
Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently spoke about how he brought Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan into the league as a team owner. This rare discussion comes just ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
Lalit played a key role in involving big names like Vijay Mallya and Shah Rukh Khan as franchise owners. Shah Rukh is now the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
In an interview with Raj Shamani, Lalit Modi discussed how both Bollywood and cricket have massive appeal in India, an industry he has always been connected to. He revealed that he and Shah Rukh Khan have been school friends, and when Modi invited him to be part of the IPL, Shah Rukh had little knowledge about cricket.
Nevertheless, the Bollywood star decided to bid for a team and became an important figure and strong supporter of the IPL.
“Bollywood and cricket sell in this country. I have always been a part of the glamor. 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,” Lalit Modi said.
“Shah Rukh Khan bid for a team, even though he didn’t know anything about cricket,” added Lalit Modi.
Lalit Modi revealed that Shah Rukh Khan initially wanted to buy Mumbai Indians but chose Kolkata Knight Riders after Mukesh Ambani secured Mumbai. Modi credited Shah Rukh with making IPL more entertaining, bringing families to the stadiums, and introducing music, cheerleaders, and a festive atmosphere.
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Modi also highlighted that Shah Rukh’s presence helped transform the IPL into a cultural phenomenon. Initially struggling to attract celebrities, the league soon became a sought-after platform, drawing stars like Deepika Padukone and Akshay Kumar, and evolving into a major entertainment spectacle.
“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,” said Lalit Modi.
“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 added.
Earlier this year, KKR clinched their third IPL title, led by Shreyas Iyer and mentored by Gautam Gambhir.
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