THE SMILEYS

I am so happy that the Kolkata Knight Riders are winning this season. For the last three years we have gone through such a rough time that it feels nice to see the team enjoying some success. It’s a new team and while I was not part of the team selection or any management decision, I can see that these boys are really coming together and they want to win every match.

YOUR TEAM

The name of the team is Kolkata Knight Riders. ‘Kolkata’ is there in the name itself. The team belongs to the city. I am just an outsider. Even though I may be an owner of the team, KKR belongs to Calcutta. I hope that the people of the city realise that we want to win for them. The reason I invite my friends in Calcutta for every match — something which I have been doing from the first IPL — is because I truly believe that it’s their team. It’s so good to see them come and support their team.

CHOP AND CHANGE

Some difficult decisions might have been taken but all with the team in mind. I still understand very little of cricket. In fact, my kids Arjun and Jahnavi are cricket buffs and they really follow the game and all the teams. I am still learning. But when KKR plays there is always a flutter in the heart.

CALL TO DADA

I made the call to Sourav Ganguly to come and watch the games (at Eden). It was very emotional for me. Dada has been a huge part of the franchise for the last three years and I had got to know him well. It was not easy for me to suddenly sever ties.

So when we came to Calcutta for the first game against the Deccan Chargers last week, I had to call him. I asked Shah Rukh and he said that he had already called him and I should also call him. I told Dada: “You must come, aap aa jao.” He said he would come for one of the matches.

SHAH RUKH AND I

Shah Rukh hardly has any time for me. In fact when I met him at the stadium the other day, I met him after ages. He has so many commitments and he works so hard. I haven’t met anyone who works as hard as Shah Rukh. There are 24 hours a day but he works 26 hours! Sometimes I wish he takes it easy. Also, his addiction to cigarettes and coffee is not good. He should take care of his health.

We started our careers almost together and Shah Rukh and me have been co-actors, co-producers and now co-team owners. Sometimes when you know a person so well, you don’t realise how big a star he is or how many people love him. So when we travel together and I see so many people waiting for him or waving out to him, I think, apne Shah Rukh ke liye itne log?!

He really wants KKR to win. Sometimes he is misunderstood by people because he is all over the place. But he always has the best interests of the team in mind.