Bollywood
stars
Abhishek
Bachchan,
Ranbir
Kapoor
and
John
Abraham
have
gone
all
out
to
support
the
inaugural
Indian
Super
League
(ISL).
The
celebrities
are
hopeful
that
their
star
power
will
herald
a
new
era
for
football,
as
well
as
other
sports,
in
the
country.
Sports
tournaments
like
Indian
Premier
League
(IPL),
Pro-Kabaddi
League
and
Hockey
India
League
(HIL)
have
already
witnessed
participation
from
cine-stars
either
as
promoters
or
co-owners.
Here's
a
dekko
at
what
some
stars
have
to
say
about
celebrity
involvement
in
the
ISL,
and
how
it
can
help
the
sport.
*
Shahrukh
Khan:
I
think
the
more
leagues
you
have,
the
better
it
is
for
sports.
I'm
glad
that
people
are
venturing
into
football.
It's
very
good.
But
I'm
not
venturing
into
it
as
it's
too
expensive
for
me...
I
wanted
to
pitch
for
this,
but
it
was
way
expensive.
If
it's
a
football
team,
then
it
has
to
be
Kolkata
for
me,
and
it
didn't
seem
possible
at
the
cost
that
it
was.
*
Abhishek
Bachchan
(co-owner
Chennaiyin
FC
-
ISL
team):
I
always
wanted
to
be
associated
with
Indian
football,
and
it's
something
that
I
feel
very
passionately
about
--
India's
position
in
sports.
We
Indians
have
a
very
long
association
with
sports,
and
I
do
believe
that
a
(film)
star's
support
will
help
the
sport.
With
whatever
popularity
I
have,
I
will
try
and
push
the
envelope.
I
think
it's
a
very
healthy
thing
to
do.
I
always
wanted
to
have
an
Indian
football
team.
We
have
a
wrong
notion
that
sports
is
not
a
viable
career
option.
I
want
to
change
that.
It's
a
serious
profession.
My
goal
is
that
by
2026,
I
want
the
(Indian)
football
team
to
reach
the
FIFA
World
Cup
and
for
that,
ISL
had
to
start
today
(now).
It's
(the
scenario)
not
going
to
change
soon,
it
will
take
time.
*
Deepika
Padukone:
I
don't
think
I
can
own
a
football
team
because
I'm
not
money-minded,
I
don't
understand
business
and
even
my
father
doesn't
understand
business.
But
if
someone
wants
me
to
be
the
brand
ambassador
and
promote
a
sport,
I
will
be
more
than
happy
to
do
so.
I'm
extremely
happy
that
actors
are
being
associated
with
ISL.
I
think
it's
fantastic
that
they
are
glamourising
the
sport
as
it
will
help
spread
awareness
about
the
sport.
So
many
sports
are
being
promoted
and
so
many
biopics
on
sportspersons
are
being
made.
I
think
its
great!
*
Boman
Irani:
I've
been
so
involved
with
sports
since
childhood.
I
live
football,
and
if
you
check
my
Twitter,
I
was
continuously
tweeting
about
football
during
the
World
Cup.
I'm
aware
of
it
and
I
understand
football,
cricket
and
tennis.
I'm
glad
actors
are
being
associated
with
a
football
league.
It's
a
great
step.
*
Shriya
Saran:
Sports
should
speak
for
itself.
I
know
a
lot
of
actors
are
coming
in,
but
I
don't
think
it
creates
much
awareness.
I
think
it's
less
about
awareness,
and
more
about
pumping
in
money.
I
think
awareness
needs
to
be
created
in
schools
and
colleges.
I
don't
think
we
should
dilute
the
importance
of
sports
with
the
celebrity.
Having
said
that,
yes,
actors
investing
their
money
and
giving
their
time
might
help
to
create
awareness,
but
beyond
that
sports
should
speak
for
itself.
I'm
the
brand
ambassador
for
the
Indian
Blind
Football
Team.
Not
many
people
know
about
it,
but
we
have
been
playing
great
games.
It's
the
blind
people
who
play
for
India
--
it's
an
another
extension
of
what
I
do,
and
I
love
it.
Even
though
they
can't
see,
it's
the
passion
for
the
sport
that
keeps
them
going.