Cricket is socially relevant : Shah Rukh

Megastar Shah Rukh Khan adored cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, was fond of wicketkeeping in his youth and bought an Indian Premier League team as he considered cricket a sport which was socially relevant.
    
Khan, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders team, said his interest in the IPL stemmed from a desire to immerse himself - apart from acting - in something which was socially relevant.
    
"For the last four to five years, I was thinking of doing something for cricket. I wanted to do something which appeals to the youth as they inspire me. NGOs wanted me to do lot of social work. But I think sports is one stream which is socially very relevant. Cricket is the most popular sport in India," King Khan said in an interiew.
    
The 42-year-old film hero, who admires Mother Teresa for her work among the poorest of the poor and the infirm, said he had succeeded in life by following three simple tenets - hard work, not thinking badly of others and honesty.
    
"Besides, I always wanted to wear the golden helmet, which to me is a metaphor for being victorious," said Shah Rukh, who shot into limelight in 1985 with the popular television serial 'Fauji.'
    
The golden helmet is the logo of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
    
Despite having made crores from acting, Khan said he believed in living a simple life.
    
"I don't get caught up in small things. This is the philosophy of my life. And, I always strive for success."
    
But the death of his parents still hurts.
    
Khan's father Taj Khan, a lawyer, died in 1981 after battling cancer. His mother died 10 years later when Khan had gone out to get medicines for her.
    
"Apart from these two tragedies, my life has been a happy one," said the Delhi-born actor.
    
The hero of hit films like 'Devdas', 'Bazigar', 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' and 'Om Shanti Om', felt youth should always aim for success in whatever they do.
    
"One must always go for excellence. If you are playing, be like Roger Federer. If you are an actor, be like Amitabh Bachchan."
    
In his young days, Khan said, he excelled in sports - be it cricket, football or hockey.
    
Cricket was a passion. SRK vividly recalled the first time he had gone to the Feroze Shah Kotla to see the star Indian players in action.
    
"It was an India-Pakistan game. I had gone with four of my friends. I remember Imran Khan scored 32."
    
Gavaskar, India's all time great opener, was his favourite.
    
"I also liked the stylish bat Gundappa Viswanth and leggie B S Chandrasekhar," he said.
    
As a player, he was a wicketkeeper.
    
"I loved to keep wickets. If a fairy comes to me and grants a boon to be a cricketer, I will still want to be a wicketkeeper."

Courtesy : DNA

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