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Tag: Ranbir Kapoor

  • Now, Sonakshi dons the producer’s hat

    Now, Sonakshi dons the producer’s hat

    MUMBAI: After Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, Sonakshi SInha is now the latest to join the production bandwagon. The Dabangg actress with her brothers Luv and Kush has launched a new production house Kratos Entertainment.

     

    Kush SInha took to twitter to make the announcement, “Sonakshi, Luv and I are happy to announce the formation of our production company – Kratos Entertainment.”

     

    Reportedly, the siblings had been thinking over the prospect for long and were waiting for the right time and opportunity. It still remains to be seen which project they undertake for their debut venture.

     

    Earlier Ranbir Kapoor had announced that he would co-produce his upcoming movie Bombay Velvet with Phantom productions, owned by Anurag Kashyap. His second production venture will again be his upcoming movie Jagga Jasoos. Actress Anushka Sharma, who is awaiting the release of her next PK, also is also set to try her hands as a producer for one of her upcoming movies – NH10. The actress, who will also play the lead in the venture, is co-producing it with the production house – Phantom.

     

    Sonakshi SInha will soon be starting up with the promotions of Action Jackson, she is also shooting for the movie Tevar and finished shooting for her south debut Lingaa with Rajnikant.

  • Deepika reveals her true equation with Ranveer & Ranbir on ‘Look Who’s Talking with Niranjan’

    Deepika reveals her true equation with Ranveer & Ranbir on ‘Look Who’s Talking with Niranjan’

    MUMBAI: A shy silent observer, Deepika can easily camouflage into any environment except if you can take your eyes off her. The tall beauty really does light up every room she sets foot into. Always observing people from a distance and imagining stories in her head, one wonders if the leggy lass has always been like this or if is this due to a drastic lifestyle change.

    This week on the season finale of ‘Look Who’s Talking with Niranjan Iyenger’, watch Deepika Padukone talk about fate, failure, films and friendship!  

    She says, “I don’t have an outside perspective of what it is like, to be me. It doesn’t come from being a celebrity. It rather stems from being a very reserved person.”

     

    Acting is something Deepika always knew would happen to her. She states, how the rather famous dialogue from Om Shanti Om about ‘if you really want something with all your heart, the universe helps you make it happen’- is quite true in her case. Deepika believes that failures have made her a better person – She believes that flaws and weaknesses make you who you are – also helps you accept who you are. Failures are her best friends – be it a failed movie or a failed relationship.

    Speaking about Ranveer, She says it is too soon to say if there are seeing each other. Every relationship needs breathing time and it doesn’t happen overnight. She certainly values the equation she shares with Ranvir but there is no status about their relationship.

    Not leaving Ranbir far behind, in the conversation, Deepika expressed, “Of course it took us some time to get back to being normal but now I don’t want to keep revisiting that again and again. There has been no thought recently and I am really happy. We make such beautiful movies together. I don’t see why our failed relationship should affect that.”

    Watch Deepika open up about Ranbir and Ranveer only on ‘Look Who’s Talking with Niranjan’ on 26 October at 9 pm on Zee Café

  • Zee initiates campaign for Kashmir floods- “HUM HAIN… Umeed-e-Kashmir”

    Zee initiates campaign for Kashmir floods- “HUM HAIN… Umeed-e-Kashmir”

    MUMBAI: The entertainment industry led by the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), the Film and Television Producers Guild and the global mediaconglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.(ZEE) has initiated a fund-raiser campaign, “HUM HAIN… Umeed-e-Kashmir” to raise funds and awareness for flood-stricken Kashmir. The recent floods in Kashmir have devastated and unhinged the lives of many leaving many casualties and loss of homes, property and livelihoods in its wake.

     
    Acknowledging our chance to be one, the relief campaign kicked off on Gandhi Jayanti and ZEE’s 22nd Anniversary – 2nd October,  with a message from youth icon Ranbir Kapoor calling on the nation to join hands and raise hope for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The message was released along with a thematic music piece composed by Gulzar & Vishal Bharadwaj and sung by Sukhwinder Singh.

     

    HUM HAIN: Umeed-e-Kashmir will strive to work alongside several NGOs, Government bodies, celebrities and civilians to give the cause a unified voice. The concert will include a list of celebrity performers will appeal and urge viewers to donate to key NGOs and specified Disaster Relief Funds in support of the Kashmir relief project. Many other stars and performers will be shortly announced.

     

    On 18 October, HUM HAIN…Ummeed e Kashmir is being hosted at the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium in Delhi and features a veritable who’s who: Aamir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Farhan Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Gulzar, Ayushman Khurrana, Daler Mehndi, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Sukhwinder Singh, Rekha Bhardwaj, Pritam, Shantanu Moitra, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Dr L Subramanium, Anupam Kher, Imtiaz Ali, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mukesh Bhatt, Swanand Kirkire, Zaheer Khan, Boney and Sridevi Kapoor and multiple celebrities. More celebrities will continue to join as performers, as the build-up to the event begins. Tickets for the event and all proceeds, which will completely go to the charity United Way will soon be available on Bookmyshow.com and other outlets across the Delhi NCR region.
     

    The campaign’s highpoint is the creation of simultaneous live events on ground across 7 cities on 18th October with the main event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi and simultaneous events being held in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkatta and Jaipur.  The spread of events across the country will help demonstrate that India cares.

     
    Zee TV’s 10 News channels will come together to connect the multiple events being held simultaneously across the country. India will be one as the event management industry in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur, and Kolkata will feature their respective film and entertainment industries. Zee’s anchors and network will connect the cities and performers live from 3 pm onwards on 18th October.

     

    A total of 38 Zee channels will SIMULCAST this initiative on Sunday 26 October including Zee TV, Zee Cinema, & Pictures, Zee Classic, Zee Action, Zee Premiere, Zee Café, Zee Studio, ETC, Zing, Zindagi, Zee Tamil, Zee Talkies, Zee Bangla, Zee Bangla  Cinema, Zee Anmol, Zee Smile, Zee Salaam, Zee Jagran, ZQ, Khana Khazana, Zee TV HD, Zee Cinema HD, & Pictures HD and Zee Studio HD, Zee Kannada, Zee Telugu, Zee Marathi Zee News, Zee Business, Zee 24 Taas, Zee 24 Ghanta, Zee MP CG, Zee Punjab, Zee Sangam, Zee Marudhara, Zee Kalina and Zee Purvaiya.

        
    Studios will also be set up in both New Delhi and Mumbai where celebrities will also send across poignant messages, performances and showcase footage films that bring alive the devastation and relief work undertaken in an effort to strengthen the appeal. Concert tickets for the same will be sold, with all proceeds going to charity. A collection of celebrity memorabilia will also go on auction. ALL money generated through the fund-raiser through sale of tickets, donations, sponsorships, commercial time, auctions, etc. will be given to charities in Jammu & Kashmir and the most-recently hit Assam that the organisers will painstakingly select.

    Amitabh Bachchan speaking about the initiative said, “As human beings and as Indians we need to do all that we can to help our countrymen in need. The plight of the people of Jammu & Kashmir has always been a matter of concern and the floods have only made it worse. All that we do simply won’t be enough to meet the various challenges facing the people; but every drop counts. Hence we call on everyone in our country and from the world community to come forward and provide their support.”

     

    Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEE said “As a nation, we have always treasured Kashmir the most, our precious crown that it has always been. In such a calamity, it is nothing less than a moral responsibility of every citizen and corporate in India to step forward and extend the best possible support towards the relief. As a global media company, with a wide bouquet of multiple channels across the nation, and a strong connect with over 730 million viewers, ZEE aims at offering a dual support to this initiative. Firstly, through the advertisement revenues generated from the broadcast, which would be entirely donated to the relief work, and secondly by offering a nationwide reach to the event. Committed to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which we espouse as our brand positioning, it is ZEE’s responsibility to step forward and work for its Family, of which the people of Kashmir are an integral part.”  

     

    Ranbir Kapoor speaking about the initiative said, “Kashmir has always been an intrinsic part of our film industry. The happiness and joy that the Kashmiri people brought me and my Rockstar crew was incredible. The people are peace-loving and love all of us from the entertainment industry. I am grateful to the EEMA and the Film  Producers Guild for initiating this project with Zee TV. It’s important that the country comes together to demonstrate our solidarity with them at this time”

     

    Sabbas Joseph, President of Event and Entertainment Management Association said today, “As we continue to plan the relief campaign, there is an optimistic energy building that we will be able to help rebuild Kashmir with a sense of solidarity that is representative by every film, music and sports icon coming together. The idea of creating multiple simultaneous live events showcases the strength, diversity and unity of our country; it also demonstrates the growing strength of the live and event management industry across the country. Bringing the country together, is at the core of the initiative that we are building.”

     

    Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Film & TV Producers Guild, said, “The land of ethereal beauty & purity is in tatters, devastated by nature’s fury. Kashmir, the embodiment of Indian culture & tradition, is crying for help from millions of fellow Indians. The Indian entertainment industry has shared a wonderful symbiotic relationship with the land of Kashmir over the years & the time has come to repay the generosity & hospitality of Kashmiris in their time of strife. The industry has forever pioneered charitable causes whenever India has been ravaged by tragedies & this time too, we would like to support our Kashmiri brethren & contribute in our own humble way to this gargantuan task of relief & rehabilitation.”Hum Hain ….. Umeed-e-Kashmir” will not only assemble industry forces on a common platform of compassion & nobility but more significantly appeal to the consciousness of the vast multitude of Indians to generously donate funds in our endeavour to provide some succour to the survivors in Kashmir.”

     

    This October, the Event and Entertainment Management Association, along with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and the Film and Television Producers Guild of India have come together in solidarity with the people of Kashmir and India, at large and is sending out a call-to-action.

     

  • Ranbir Kapoor is the new brand ambassador of TAG Heuer

    Ranbir Kapoor is the new brand ambassador of TAG Heuer

    MUMBAI: TAG Heuer has signed actor Ranbir Kapoor as a TAG Heuer brand ambassador for a long-term partnership. With this association, TAG Heuer reinforces its leadership position by becoming the only brand in the industry endorsed by two of the biggest names in Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan & Ranbir Kapoor.

     

    TAG Heuer recently unveiled its global campaign, ‘Don’t crack under pressure’, in India.

     

     “Far more than a claim, it is a powerful mindset,” said TAG Heuer CEO Stephane Linder. “Those who know TAG Heuer may recognise the motto, a tribute to an early 90’s campaign which for many remains the most archetypal expression of TAG Heuer’s unbreakable determination. The campaign captures the mental strength of our Dream Team, athletes and partners, who reflect the values of the TAG Heuer shield. Be it Cristiano Ronaldo the perfectionist, Maria Sharapova the irresistible, Shah Rukh Khan the King of Bollywood or our latest ambassador Ranbir Kapoor the Bollywood heartthrob & youth icon of today. In India, we are proud to have two of the best names in Bollywood sporting TAG Heuer and we see a great future with them in the coming years.”

     

    “TAG Heuer has always been one of my dreams,” said Kapoor. “It started when I was really young, it was the first watch I wanted to own in my life. I remember my parents gifted it to me on my 13th birthday. So now, to be associated with the brand is really humbling for me. I really have to pinch myself to believe that I am part of the TAG Heuer family. I think TAG Heuer stands for the four principle P’s that is prestige, precision, passion and performance. I think that is something we all and especially I can identify with; the way I look at my career, my life. I believe these are very important aspects for how one should approach their life, their work and their relationships.”

     

     “While most people want to succeed in their time, a few succeed in changing their time. These exceptional individuals are called Time Changers,” said TAG Heuer marketing director Puneet Sewra. “Being a 4th generation actor from the legendary Kapoor family, there are a lot of expectations one has to match. Not only did Ranbir live up to those expectations, he also successfully managed to carve his own niche in a short span and did not crack under pressure; and that is what makes him a Time Changer. We are very proud to have Ranbir join the TAG Heuer family and we look forward to a long-term partnership with him.”

  • Ranbir Kapoor officially launches Mumbai City Football Club

    Ranbir Kapoor officially launches Mumbai City Football Club

    MUMBAI: India’s metropolitan city Mumbai which is home to some of India’s greatest sporting talents has finally got its own football club for the upcoming Hero Indian Super League-Mumbai City Football Club.

     

    Team owners Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh along with IMG-Reliance chairperson Nita Ambani and yesteryear actor Rishi Kapoor unveiled the logo of the new team and spoke about the teams’ grassroots programme. Mumbai’s D.Y Patil Stadium has been declared as the team’s home stadium.

     

    Explaining the new blue and white designed logo for the team, Ranbir Kapoor, who is the co-owner of the Club said, “A resilient fortress surrounding the logo signifies the determined spirit of the city. The seven stars symbolise the islands that form Mumbai. The trains meanwhile stand for the pulsating, beating a staccato rhythm and the vast distance these trains connect. They are the lifeline of the city.”

     

    He further added, “I couldn’t have asked for a better franchise to co-own.  It is the city I have grown up in and the city I love. This team will celebrate our unwavering spirit and like the city, fulfill the dreams of players and football fans.”

     

    When questioned if he will just be a face for the team or an active participant, the self proclaimed Barcelona fan said that he had financially invested in the team and was very passionate about football since he was 10-11 years old.

     

    Chartered Accountant and co-owner Bimal Parekh while speaking to indiantelevision.com said that he will be looking after the financial and administration aspect of the team, while his other co-owner Kapoor, would help in developing and promoting the team. “Our roles are clear cut and well defined,” he added.

     

    Parekh promises that his team will play a possession based free flowing brand of football while being technically sound, fast and tactically aware.

     

    The team has already devised its plan to reach out to the young fans at the grassroots level. Said the team’s technical director Nishant Mehra, “We have roped in around 100 schools to be a part of the developmental programme where we plan to target the age group of six to 10 years.”

     

     Commenting on the grassroots activation, IMG-Reliance chairperson Nita Ambani said, “The real excitement for the Hero ISL is the Young Champs programme, through which we will reach out to a number of schools.”

     

     A lot of emphasis is being laid on the grassroots programme, as it is understood that each of the teams are contractually bound to shell out approximately Rs 2 crore annually as part of developing the game in their respective team areas.

     

     

  • Ranbir Kapoor now a creative collaborator

    Ranbir Kapoor now a creative collaborator

    MUMBAI: Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor has now joined hands with Saavn (South Asia Audio Video Network), a US-based digital music company as its creative collaborator. The association was announced at the online music streaming press conference, which was attended by India’s top music industry executives and influencers.

    The superstar, as part of the association will work with the Saavn team on consumer marketing ideation and production, business development and content.

    Talking about the partnership Kapoor said, “I’ve been using Saavn for years now, so it’s exciting to be working with the team on a deeper level. I’ll be helping to guide the brand, influence programming, connect with the next generation of music listeners and ultimately help build the best music product in India and potentially the world.”

    “I look forward to being involved in a more business-centric capacity in the near future,” he added.

    The partnership has initially materialised in the form of a new commercial campaign featuring a 30 second television spot. Kapoor provided a significant amount of input on the creative for the campaign. The TV commercial was written by Vasan Bala, who is the screenwriter for Kapoor’s new film, Bombay Velvet, alongside Sneha Mehta and Teddy Stern of Saavn and has been produced by Golden Gaddi Films, the ad production house of Guneet Monga who is the producer of The Lunchbox.

    Saavn released a sneak-peek of its alliance with Kapoor in its “Here’s to the Music” campaign that went live earlier this year.

    Click here to watch the video

    Saavn executive chairman Paramdeep Singh said, “It felt right from the beginning. Our collaboration with Ranbir represents an evolution in the way technology companies and artists work together in India. And that bridge between art and digital is at the very heart of what we want to accomplish at Saavn.”

    The digital music company, which claims a catalog of almost two million tracks from both Indian and US record labels, will be rolling out a suite of new consumer-facing products and partnerships over the next couple of months.

  • Katrina distances herself from Hrithik, to please Ranbir!

    Katrina distances herself from Hrithik, to please Ranbir!

    MUMBAI: The sizzling on-screen chemistry between Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, will be seen once again in their upcoming flick Bang Bang.

     

    According to reports by zoOm, the reel life bond is because of their growing fondness for each other off-screen. But to avoid any link-up stories, Katrina is maintaining distance from Hrithik Roshan. Seems like, Katrina wants to avoid all the possible rumours that may surface, just like it did earlier during Salman-Katrina-Ranbir love triangle!

     

    Sources claim that during the shoot of Bang Bang, Katrina and Hrithik shared excellent rapport, but before anyone could speak about their ‘friendship’, Katrina suddenly started making attempts to stay away from Hrithik. And it clearly points that this step is to evade possible media news on Ranbir-Katrina break-up!

     

    May be the real reason will never be known, considering Katrina’s repeated denial on her relationship status with Ranbir. So discussing her bond with Hrithik is a far-fetched story!

  • Koffee With Karan Season 4 Ends On a High Note After A Successful Run on Star World

    Koffee With Karan Season 4 Ends On a High Note After A Successful Run on Star World

    MUMBAI: Everybody’s favorite Bollywood Celebrity Talk Show – Koffee with Karan,  Season 4, has bid its viewers adieu after a superb run on STAR WORLD. The finale episode of the season aired on 13th April, recapping the best moments from the Season, a befitting farewell for all its fans. Having made it’s spot on GEC mantle amongst the top entertainment shows in India, the last four months saw an all-time rating high.

     

    In the last four months, well-known celebrity filmmaker Karan Johar has featured Bollywood’s biggest superstars, engaging them in a no holds barred dialogue. New and fascinating elements like Karan’s Broadway Music video, a stylish new and improved show set, interesting add on’s to the shows format like the Bollywood quiz gave this season that extra edge.  

     

    The last episode featured Karan Johar revealing  the contents of the Koffee Hamper which the celebrities were competing for in the rapid fire round. One of the high points of each episode was the mock competitiveness of the celebrities vying for the hamper full of goodies. In addition to that, key highlights from the best episodes of the season were showcased. Some of the shocking as well as the humorous moments right from Salman Khan’s  ‘ I am a virgin’ comment, Kareena Kapoor on Ranbir- Katrina wedding plans to speculations on Anushka’s lip job made the cut . Funny antics of the Stars with Akshay Kumar turning the tables on Karan with his own version of the rapid fire round , Alia’s crush on Ranbir confession, Sonam’s plans to enter politics and of course  Nargis and Freida’s PG13 humor were also a part of the highlights.

     

    Koffee with Karan’s unscripted content has garnered high entertainment value that is always making headlines. Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Akhshay Kumar made their debut on the show they were previously elusive to. Upcoming talent like Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Nargis Fakhri, Arjun Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapoor, & Sharaddha Kapoor gave audiences memorable conversations to revel in.

     

    The digital sphere was also abuzz not only in India & but also worldwide with conversations on online networking portals. Episodes with Salman Khan, Nargis Fakhri, Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sharaddha Kapoor, Deepika Padukone & Priyanka Chopra went viral on numerous social media sites.

     

    On this occasion Kevin Vaz, General Manager, Star India Pvt. Ltd. (English Cluster) said “Koffee with Karan Season 4 has had a great run on our channel and we are proud to say that it was one of our prime properties for the year. The overwhelming response that the show received has surpassed our expectations and that was very encouraging. As we move forward to bring a very exciting content line up this year we also look forward to the next season of the show”.

     

    True to its ethos,  the show did not fail to impress their viewers leading to a high viewership and garnering enviable TRP levels in the process. With Season 4 being such a huge hit, viewers are already looking forward to the next season of KOFFEE WITH KARAN on Star World.

  • Tata Motors and COLORS Join Hands for Mission Sapne

    Tata Motors and COLORS Join Hands for Mission Sapne

    MUMBAI: Leading Hindi general entertainment channel, COLORS, today announced its partnership with Tata Motors for the channel’s upcoming show, Mission Sapne. Through this association, both brands will enhance their focus on societal welfare as they strive to present a unique CSR-led initiative that will appeal to viewers to synergize their efforts towards creating a better tomorrow for underprivileged individuals in the country. Mission Sapne is set to hit airwaves on 27th April, 2014, every Sunday at 8.00pm on COLORS.

     

    Produced by Sobo Films and hosted by Sonali Bendre, Mission Sapne is a pioneering programming initiative from COLORS which brings together celebrities from various walks of life and encourages them to leverage their fame for the benefit of the common man. As a part of the show, audiences will get an opportunity to see their favourite celebrities step into the shoes of the common man for a day and earn their daily wage.

     

    Season one of the show will see Top celebrities from across Bollywood, television, sports and music will be volunteering in this Mission including actors Salman Khan (Barber), Varun Dhawan (Pattiwala), Harbhajan Singh (Namkeen seller), Mika Singh (Chaiwala), Ronit Roy (Cosmetic Seller), Ranbir Kapoor (Vada-pav seller), Ram Kapoor (Taxi driver), Karan Johar (Photographer), Drashti Dhami (Nimbu-mirchi seller) and Siddharth Malhotra (Vegetable vendor). True to the person he is helping, the celebrity will move away from their comfort zone to drive a taxi, sell vegetables or become a door-to-door salesman and use their talent, wit and star persona to bring a change in their ordinary and tough life.  They will also witness the various difficulties faced by those who bring comfort to our lives.

     

    Speaking about the partnership, Ankush Arora, SVP – Passenger Vehicles Business Unit (Commercial), Tata Motors, said, “At Tata Motors, we have always believed in putting our customers first and through our association, with COLORS for Mission Sapne, we hope to ingrain this thought further amongst our audiences. The show’s focus on working towards the betterment of the society has struck a chord in our hearts and we look forward to contributing, in our own little way, towards this cause.”

     

    Speaking about their latest venture, Raj Nayak, CEO – COLORS says, “We’re very thankful to each and every celebrity who voluntarily joined us for this noble cause. They not only took out time from their busy lives but also whole heartedly committed to leading the life of a common man without any remuneration. We are extremely delighted to announce our partnership with a like-minded organization like- Tata Motors through this property.”

     

    Watch out as your favourite celebrities step into the shoes of the less fortunate and help them fulfill their dreams on Mission Sapne…
    Starting April 27, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. only on COLORS!

  • ISL announces partners in its journey to revolutionise Indian football

    ISL announces partners in its journey to revolutionise Indian football

    MUMBAI: IMG Reliance and Star India promoted Indian Super League (ISL), under the aegis of All India Football Federation, on Sunday, 13 April reached a crucial junction on its path to rediscover Indian football, as it identifies and awards eight ‘League Partners’ across the country ahead of the proposed September-November 2014 inaugural season.

     

    Touted to be an unrivalled footballing tourney, the ISL – that is being planned under the Football Sports Development (FSD) – aims to ignite a revolution in the sport and ultimately enable Indian football to thrive and perform at the highest level on the international stage.

     

    “Today’s announcement is the culmination of several years of hard work and strategic planning,” said IMG chairman & chief executive and IMG Reliance chairman Michael Dolan in a statement. “We are enormously pleased at the level of interest the creation of the Indian Super League has generated. We believe the League signals the beginning of a new era in the development of football in India and, in the future, will be the source of great pride for the people of India.”

     

    ISL’s proposal for ‘League Partners’ received an overwhelming response from the business, sports and Hindi film industry, to own a team from the nine proposed cities in the contention. Four of the final eight cities – Delhi, Kochi, Guwahati and Bengaluru – will find itself in the mainstream football map of the country, which is traditionally being dominated by Kolkata, Goa, Pune and Mumbai, through the high-profile professional tournament.

     

    “Inspiring our nation to excel is a priority and comes naturally to us at Star India. With our expertise in marketing and production of sports content, our task is cut out to etch football in the sports culture of India,” said Star India CEO Uday Shankar. “The nation has been awaiting its second sport for far too long. And we’re delighted to collaborate with esteemed partners in the business and sports world to make that happen!”.

     

    The winning bids, which boast a good mix of corporates and celebrities, include – the Sun Group for Bengaluru; Sameer Manchanda led Den Network for Delhi; Venugopal Dhoot (Videocon), Dattaraj Salgaocar and Shrinivas V. Dempo for Goa; John Abraham & Shillong Lajong for Guwahati; Sachin Tendulkar & PVP Ventures for Kochi; Sourav Ganguly, Harshavardhan Neotia, Atletico Madrid, Sanjeev Goenka, Utsav Parekh for Kolkata, Bollywood’s Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh for Mumbai and Salman Khan together with Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan of the Wadhawan Group for Pune.

     

    “It is with great pride that I welcome the eight League Partners to the Indian Super League. We want to unlock the unbound aspirational energy of our youth through grassroots and community development programs,” said Nita M. Ambani. “Together, we will strive to build a vibrant ecosystem that will provide impetus to football in India. As Mentor of the League, I commit myself to development of football as a major sport for the youth of India.

     

    Ernst & Young, the designated international advisory firm, had the mandate of drawing up and validating the bid process. Each bidder was subject to strict eligibility norms and was required to submit the bids, as prescribed under the ‘Invitation to Bid’ document. Bids were evaluated by the jury panel in the presence of Ernst & Young representatives.

     

    The ISL represents a transformational progress for Indian football, progress that will be good for players, fans and the League Partners. It’s an opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting new properties in football anywhere in the world and Indian Federation, the AIFF has extended all its help for the success of the League.

     

    AIFF president Praful Patel said: “No period in India’s long and proud history in football is more exciting than today. This day will go down in memory as a special day for Indian football as eight high profile celebrities & corporates are being introduced into the sport through Indian Super League. With IMG Reliance & Star providing the perfect foundation, the League has become an unstoppable force which would change Indian football.”

     

    “I hope the grassroots’ obligation of the franchises gives a huge push to the development of the game. Along with the world class infrastructure that is being created for the Under 17 FIFA World Cup, and AIFF’s expression of interest to host 2015 and 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, Indian football is definitely turning a new leaf in its history,” he added.

     

    AIFF general secretary Kushal Das too is a firm believer of the fact that Indian football needs an innovative approach to amass popularity. “I have always believed Indian football needs an innovative and experimental format like Indian Super League to bring the fans back to the stadiums. Today, with the kind of owners and organisers that we have behind Indian Super League, we have the perfect recipe to a successful professional tournament. I wish the Indian Super League all the best.”

     

    Here is a closer look at the winning Bidders/Consortiums:

     

    A new Sun rises in the Garden City

    Bengaluru – Sun Group

     

    Sun Group is an Indian conglomerate, based in Chennai, India. Sun Group’s Sun TV Network is one of the largest media networks in India. It owns over thirty three television channels, 45 FM Radio Stations, Two Daily News Papers and Five Magazines with a reach of more than 95 million households in India. Sun Direct is one of the largest DTH service provider in the country having more than 9 million subscribers. Sun Pictures is the film division of Sun TV Network. The group is also present in the aviation business with SpiceJet and also owns IPL cricket team Sunrisers Hyderabad.

     

    Den to lay football Network in Delhi

    Delhi – Sameer Manchanda of Den Networks

     

    DEN Networks – led by Chairman and Managing Director Sameer Manchanda, is India’s largest cable TV distribution company serving 13 million homes in over 200 cities. Based in Delhi, DEN is a frontrunner of digitisation of Indian cable TV. DEN is also launching India’s fastest high speed broadband service with speeds of 100 Mbps and more. DEN aims to become the default destination for entertainment, information and interactivity for the Indian family.

     

    Goan sport to get Dempo, Salgaocar & Videocon’s push

    Goa – Salgaocar / Dempo / Videocon

     

    Dattaraj Salgaocar: His company has diverse interests in Mining, Hospitality, and Shipping. It exports over 4 million tonnes of Iron Ore every year. The company also runs the Goa Marriott and Hotel La Plaz Gardens in Goa.

     

    Dempo: Dempo Mining Corporation Limited is a prominent mining company from  Goa. Shrinivas V. Dempo is the chairman of Dempo Group. They are also the owners of Dempo Sports Club, popularly known as ‘the whites’ from Goa. The team has been a constant performer in all the national football championship and gained immense popularity in the last four decades of its existence. The team has several accolades and honours in its kitty. They have won the National Football League title in 2004 and 2006 and followed it with two I-League triumphs in 2006–07 and then in 2009–2010.

     

    Videocon: The group is a US $5 billion global conglomerate with a diversified set of products ranging from handsets, D2H, Electronic Appliance etc. The group has 17 manufacturing sites in India and plants in Mainland China, Poland, Italy and Mexico.

     

    John joins Lajong for Guwahati

    Guwahati – John Abraham and Shillong Lajong

     

    John Abraham: John Abraham is an established Bollywood actor, producer and former model. Known for his obsession for football, bikes and fitness, John is an avid follower of football and sports in general. He has bought a stake in Delhi team of Hockey India League.

     

    Shillong Lajong: Shillong Lajong is an I-league team based in Shillong. It was established in the year 1983. It was promoted to the 1st division of the I-League in the 2009-10 season. They have been associated with prominent brands such as Aircel and Adidas. The team plays its home matches in the Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

     

    God of cricket comes to ‘God’s own country’

    Kochi – Prasad V. Potluri of PVP Ventures & Sachin Tendulkar

     

    PVP is one of the largest investors of the country in media and entertainment industry and is listed on the BSE and the NSE. Prasad V Potluri, the known serial entrepreneur in the global outsourcing services space is the Chairman and MD of PVP Ventures. PVP was one of the bidders for Hyderbad team of IPL in 2012.

     

    Sachin Tendulkar: The batting maestro and a world renowned personality, also known as the God amongst his global fan base, will be associated with the team as its brand ambassador.

     

    Kolkata looks forward to Dadagiri in football

    Kolkata – Sourav Ganguly, Harshavardhan Neotia, Atletico Madrid, Sanjiv Goenka, Utsav Parekh

     

    Sourav Ganguly: Affectionately known as ‘Dada’, is a former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team. Currently, a cricket commentator, Ganguly is regarded as one of India’s most successful captains in modern times. He is the 5th highest run scorer in ODIs and was the 3rd person in history to cross the 10,000 run landmark. In 2002, the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack ranked him the sixth greatest ODI batsman of all time.

     

    Atlético de Madrid: Spanish club based in Madrid that plays in the La Liga and has been the champions on 9 occasions. It is the third most supported club in Spain. They will be moving to a new stadium in the 2015 season which will have a capacity of 70,000 spectators. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world in terms of associates with more than 65,000 season ticket holders.

     

    Harshavardhan Neotia: Harshavardhan Neotia of Ambuja Neotia Group is one of the most prominent and respected businessman in India. The corporate houses headquartered in Kolkata has its forte in real estate and recent forays into hospitality, healthcare and education. The group has championed the cause of woman and child healthcare by setting up Bhagiarthi Neotia Woman & Child Care Centre in Kolkata.

     

    Sanjiv Goenka:  Sanjiv Goenka of RP – Sanjiv Goenka Group from Kolkata is a prominent businessman in India having interest in Power business in the city and national network of modern Retail chains across country.

     

    Utsav Parekh:  Utsav Parekh has been Non-Executive-Non-Independent Chairman at SMIFS Capital Markets Ltd. since April 1, 2009. Mr. Parekh has about 25 years of in-depth experience in merchant banking and financial services.

     

    Mumbai Wakes Up to Sid’s passion

    Mumbai – Ranbir Kapoor & Bimal Parekh

     

    Ranbir Kapoor is one of the leading Indian film actor of the current generation. Through his successful career in Hindi (Bollywood) films, he has become one of the highest-paid actors and one of the most high-profile celebrities in India. He is the recipient of several awards and nominations including five Filmfare Awards. Kapoor is the son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, and the grandson of actor-director Raj Kapoor. He began his career in Bollywood as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2005 film Black and later turned actor to give many a hit movies year on year. A keen follower of football and an avid fan of FC Barcelona, Ranbir is often seen on the maidans of Mumbai playing football with his co-stars and friends when he is not shooting.

     

    Bimal Parekh: Bimal Parekh is a renowned Chartered Accountant from Mumbai.

     

    Pune will play its football Dabang style

    Pune – Salman Khan, Kapil Wadhawan & Dheeraj Wadhawan

     

    Kapil & Dheeraj Wadhawan: Kapil Wadhawan is the Chairman and Dheeraj Wadhawan is the Vice Chairman of the Rajesh Wadhawan Group, which has diverse business interests including financial services, food retail, hospitality, education and real estate. Sport development has been a major focus area of the Wadhawan family, which believes in taking sport to the grassroots level, thus enabling access for India’s young to good quality sporting activities and infrastructure. Over the years, Wadhawan Group has been associated with sports – especially cricket – either as sponsors or team owners.

     

    Salman Khan: Salman Khan is an Indian actor, producer, television presenter, and philanthropist. Known as the actor with mass appeal, Salman is the promoter of ‘Being Human Foundations’. He has appeared in the highest grossing film nine separate years during his career, a record that remains unbroken. He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films and thus far and has established himself as a leading actor of Hindi cinema.

     

    Leveraging the strengths of all its partners, the Indian Super League envisions creating new football powerhouses in this part of the world, which will rise to global prominence as the country and the sport further develops.