Sports are an integral part of Indian culture, whether it’s Cricket, Football, Badminton or Hockey, Indians supported the competitive and the athletic aspects of every sport enthusiastically. However, ever since 2014, people began to embrace a sport which originated from the Vedic period of ancient India in Kabaddi, thanks to Pro Kabaddi League (a.k.a PKL), which follows a format similar to the IPL. With a total of 12 teams housing most of the popular cities/states in India, the popularity and the growth of PKL is always on the up and up due to various reasons
One of the main reasons why the Pro Kabaddi League succeeded is because of the involvement of heavy advertisement and the participation of Bollywood actors who attract the viewers with their presence and also add glamour. Be it the IPL, ISL or the PKL, Bollywood always ensured that its charm is always felt significant as they’re a part of the total package. So, in this editorial, we discuss how the collaboration of Bollywood influenced the popularity of the Kabaddi Game.
First off, the team owners. While most of the Bollywood personalities are only taking part in showing support for their beloved teams, a few of them were the top dogs (in other words, the team owners). And the most popular one amongst the few, is, without a doubt – Abhishek Bachchan. The owner of the 2014 season winner, Jaipur Pink Panthers. Abhishek’s screen presence along with his father Amitabh Bachchan is always felt in his team’s games as his excitement levels are through the roof most of the time.
On the other hand, one of India’s leading entrepreneur and Bollywood producer, Ronnie Screwvala is also partnered with the League as he owns the U Mumba team, the 2015 season winner. Although his participation is different when compared to the mainstream Bollywood stars, we frequently see many actors and actresses like Katrina Kaif come and support his team.
Even though his involvement in the industry is slim to none, the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s clout is omnipresent in Bollywood, thanks to his 2017 biopic, Sachin: A Billion Dreams. He along with his partner Nimmagadda Prasad, collectively own Tamil Thalaivas team and it is safe to say that Sachin’s delightful demeanour enlightens everyone’s spirits inside and out.
While most of the Bollywood Superstars only participate to enjoy the PKL matches, their contribution impacts the viewership numbers and will intrigue all age groups. Personalities like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, etc. bring in more eyes to the product and will, in turn, benefit the PKL brand.
In addition to that, the actors and actresses also attend these matches in an attempt to market their upcoming films. There are many instances when celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Alia Bhatt came in to promote their projects or to just take part in the evening festivities. With these engagements, the crossover appeal plays a significant factor and will once again work as a perk.
Subsequently, when it comes to creating box-office numbers or elevating the popularity of the PKL, Bollywood plays a significant role by adding glamour and legitimacy to the sport. So, do not be surprised if a few more celebrities start cheering for the Pro Kabaddi League in the near future.
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