A chance encounter led Abhishek Bachchan to snap up a team in the country’s Pro Kabaddi League in 2014. He followed it up with a football team in the Indian Super League a few months later. Arun Janardhan catches up with the part-team owner, strategist-in-chief and easy-going sports guru
It was Chennaiyin FC’s first home football match in the inaugural season of the Indian Super League, in October 2014. Team co-owner Abhishek Bachchan was stuck in a car, headed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Bachchan was happy to see the crowd – it meant people were flocking to see football in a city that’s traditionally supported cricket – but stressed that he was going to miss the opening moments of the match.
So he leaped out and started sprinting the last yards, ignoring the curious looks. As he reached the gates, the national anthem started playing, so he stood still, feeling awkward and anxious. By the time he reached the stands, he found his father Amitabh Bachchan, his friend Rajinikanth and opponents Kerala Blasters’ coowner Sachin Tendulkar tucked in together.
“The greatest were all on one sofa, which was cute because it wasn’t a big sofa. Ten minutes into the match, I realised no one’s watching the eld. All the fans were looking at these three,” the 43-year-old remembers.
Seated in a conference room in the family office bungalow Janak in Mumbai, Bachchan chuckles at the thought of the incident from five years ago. He was then the owner of two new teams in two new leagues – the Pro Kabaddi League and the ISL – and treading into the unknown. Now, even as the seventh season of the PKL is underway and prep for the sixth season of the ISL later this year has started, the actor has lessons learned, experiences to be shared and much to look forward to.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2019 من GQ India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2019 من GQ India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.
DEMNA UNMASKED
He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.
Inside the undercover adventures of a full-time fraud sleuth.
HOW TO MAKE A FORTUNE AS A PROFESSIONAL WHISTLE-BLOWER
A LIFE OF FASHION
In an extensive conversation, the menswear icon discusses his rise, his mistakes, his triumphs, his retirement, and what the future holds for him and his beloved brand.
IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WITH GEORGE & BRAD
They've spent three decades living intertwined lives at the inconceivably glamorous height of Hollywood. Now, having crossed the threshold of 60, they're more comfortable than ever throwing bombs, dispensing hard-won wisdom, and, yes, arguing about who had the better mullet in the '80s.
ALEXANDER THE GRITTY
One of India's most creative chefs comes of age.
Penning History
Montblanc marks 100 years of its iconic Meisterstück with new writing instruments inspired by the 1924 Olympic Games.
Royal Enfield Forges a New Path
Say hello to the company's most cutting-edge roadster.
Arooj Aftab Owns the Night
The Grammy Award-winning artist, fresh off a Glastonbury set, speaks to GQ about her new album, Night Reign, from the ideas that led to its conception to its genre-defying collabs with Elvis Costello, Kaki King and more.
Louis Vuitton's New Beat
The luxury maison's latest addition to the Tambour line reiterates its commitment to watchmaking and craftsmanship.