Shah Rukh Khan’s journey as owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is one of the biggest success stories in IPL history. But according to IPL founder Lalit Modi, the superstar almost passed on the opportunity because he was nervous about spending Rs 20 crore from his savings.
In a candid chat with Humans of Bombay, Modi peeled back the curtain on how SRK went from a reluctant cricket fan to the face of one of the most valuable franchises in world cricket. The revelation gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the league, when Modi was determined to blend Bollywood glamour with cricket to create prime-time magic.
When Cricket Met Bollywood: The Idea That Changed IPL
Modi recalled taking Shah Rukh to a cricket match in Jaipur about a year before the IPL was launched. The actor’s arrival, he said, turned the stadium electric. “I saw the crowds go absolutely hysterical when he arrived. He became the highlight of the match,” Modi shared.
That moment convinced Modi that pairing cricket with Bollywood could create a powerful entertainment product. “In India, two things sell, cricket and Bollywood,” he explained. Modi needed to snag the 8 pm prime-time slot, going head-to-head with India’s biggest TV shows. “Cricket had never really been a night-time product. I was taking a huge risk,” he admitted.
His solution? Get the biggest star in the country to own a team. “Who better than Shah Rukh Khan?” Modi said. But SRK wasn’t an immediate yes. “Shah Rukh didn’t like cricket and didn’t really understand cricket. He is a football fan. When I told him I wanted him to buy a team, he was apprehensive,” Modi revealed.
‘That’s a Big Part of My Savings Account’
SRK’s hesitation wasn’t just about the game—it was about the money. When Modi told the actor the down payment would be Rs 20 crore, Shah Rukh reportedly replied, “But that’s a big part of my savings account.”
To ease those fears, Modi looked for a big corporate sponsor. At the time, mobile phone giant Nokia was desperate to have SRK as its brand ambassador. Modi struck a deal: if Shah Rukh won a team, would Nokia sponsor the front of the jersey? They agreed. “It was a win-win for Nokia if Shah Rukh owned a team. It was a win-win for Shah Rukh if Nokia became the front-shirt sponsor. He basically bought it for free,” Modi claimed.
The deal came together within hours, according to Modi. “At 12 o’clock, Shah Rukh wrote a cheque. By the evening, Nokia wrote another cheque to sponsor the KKR consortium.”
From Doubt to Dynasty
Since that day, KKR has become a cricketing powerhouse. Co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Jay Mehta, the franchise has won multiple IPL titles and built one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. SRK’s initial nervousness seems like a distant memory now.
KKR’s value has skyrocketed, with the franchise now estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Shah Rukh’s association with the team has also become a key part of his brand, with the actor often spotted cheering from the stands in his signature black KKR cap.
Recently, Shah Rukh was spotted in Kolkata with his youngest son AbRam, ahead of a highly anticipated meeting with football legend Lionel Messi. The superstar’s love for football may have made him a reluctant cricket owner, but his KKR journey has proven that sometimes, the best decisions come from stepping out of your comfort zone.