What’s with the Bollywood and IPL?

Bollywood has played a very instrumental role in the whole process of IPL. So, there are two things that ring my head, first, why is the IPL so famous? Is it because of the Bollywood edge? And why is it that the Bollywood completely adores the IPL scene? Let’s find some reasons to this one.

In a country where cricket is a religion and is followed by millions irrespective of the result in the game, first and foremost is obviously the 30 seconds of fame. One may think that the Bollywood stars are already celebrities so why would they want fame all over again. But who would mind the camera being focussed on them and being watched by millions irrespective of the fate of their films at the box office. They get their moment of fame and that’s what glamour is all about.

Secondly if it’s India nothing can sell more than cricket. And with so much of money stacked on their sleeves, these stars took a calculated risk which is paying them off. At least they have a career beyond Bollywood when they get out of work. And as a matter of fact, actors like Priety Zinta entered the industry of ‘commercial’ cricket when her Bollywood career was having a dry spell.

Others like Shah Rukh obviously either felt for the cause or fancied the industry way too much and hence entered it, but undoubtedly Khan seems to be very ‘at it’ with his team and encourages them to his full might.

Since time immemorial the lives of Bollywood starlets have remained under the wraps, but for the very first time after IPL got introduced, the common gentry started knowing the true lives of these star borns.

For example, the case of Priety Zinta and Ness Wadia, both were very much in love, however during the last IPL, rumours came afloat that both weren’t seeing each other and decided to take separate paths. Now who would give us the dose of gossip, if not our very own IPL?

One clean chit case is that of Shilpa Shetty and her hubby Raj Kundra. They own the Rajasthan Royals; however this is one team which has kept themselves away from all the controversies and played good game.

So, the question again comes in as to why is Bollywood so fixated with the IPL? The apparent reasons look like the ones mentioned above, but the other is that maybe we are also following the trend of the English fraternity, where earning a bit of popularity and money doesnt really hurt!

By Ronisha Bhattacharrya