Not every Bollywood star with a love for sports jumps into the IPL bandwagon and Abhishek Bachchan is a perfect example. While he’s been deeply involved in sports ownership for years, there’s one league
he’s consciously stayed away from.
The actor, who has built a strong presence as a team owner in leagues like kabaddi and football, recently opened up about why the Indian Premier League has never featured in his investment plans. In an interview with Forbes, Abhishek spoke candidly about the timing, finances, and his own expectations from such ventures.
Reflecting on the early days of the IPL, he admitted that the financial barrier played a key role. “It is very interesting. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like the IPL. I think it is the ultimate in sports entertainment. I would love to be involved in it, but at that point of time – first of all, to be honest – when it started, it was very expensive. I was a fledgling actor… my films had just started doing well, I had begun earning some decent money, but it was out of my budget.”
Beyond the cost, Abhishek pointed out that he prefers to be actively involved rather than just a face in the stands. He explained that he wasn’t sure what value he could add in a setup already managed at a high level. “More importantly, I didn’t know what I could contribute. In terms of infrastructure, the BCCI does a wonderful job so what could I bring to the table? I am not someone who is happy sitting in the stands and waving. ‘Oh, a star has arrived’—I am not that person… If you have seen me at my matches, I am very involved. I sit with the players. I live with them. I train them if I can. I even approve what they eat every day. I micromanage everything – that’s how I like to work.”
Instead, Abhishek chose to invest where he could be hands-on. He owns the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League and co-owns Chennaiyin FC in football. He is frequently spotted at matches, often accompanied by his family, actively supporting his teams.
On the film front, Abhishek was last seen in Kaalidhar Laapata, directed by Madhumita. He is now gearing up for King, helmed by Siddharth Anand. The film features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, along with Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Raghav Juyal, Saurabh Shukla and Jaideep Ahlawat. It is slated for a theatrical release in December this year.
He also has Raja Shivaji in the pipeline, a historical action drama directed by Riteish Deshmukh, who also plays the titular role. The film features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi and Amole Gupte. The project, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is produced by Genelia Deshmukh and Jyoti Deshpande.
