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‘SPORTS IS A GREAT TEACHER’
Arjun Kapoor, who is now a coowner of a Punebased football club, says he admires athletes for their discipline
Arjun Kapoor is known as one of Bollywood’s biggest football aficionados, alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor. Now, Arjun has taken his love for the beautiful game a big step further — he recently became a co-owner of FC Pune City. In an exclusive chat with HT Cafe, Arjun talks about his love for the game, meeting English footballer John Terry, and more.
You’re now a coowner of a football team. How did that happen?
I have been a big football fan for a long time. After cricket, if there is a sport that I have fallen in love with — and that too since my college days — it is football. I always followed football on television when I was a kid, and lately, on the Internet, so you can call me a football fanatic (laughs). I was intrigued when a big football league started in India a few years ago. At that time, I realised that this league and football are here to stay, and so it is very exciting for me to be a part of a revolution.
When celebrities get involved, does it help generate more interest among fans?
Yes, that’s true, but I feel things have changed a lot in the last two-three years as awareness has grown. Sports, in general, has evolved in the last two-three years. I feel that cities can connect with a team when a celebrity gets involved. I want to connect with the people of Pune rather than just with TV audiences. I want the people of Pune to feel that I am a part of their culture, thought process and philosophy. For instance, Shah Rukh Khan — vis-à-vis his IPL cricket team — has managed to find an intricate connect with the people of Kolkata. If people’s energy is channelled through one person, it helps create a mentality of support for a longer time, and not just for one or two games.
Do you feel that a team game like football can teach one many things about life?
Of course. Most sports are great teachers. Sportsmen or athletes have great discipline. Anyone who has grown up playing sports has a great way of conducting themselves. They also have a sense of professionalism and a positive mindset. If you play a sport from a young age, those habits get inculcated in you. You can always tell the difference between a sportsperson and a normal guy. Moreover, the shelf life of a sportsman is so short that they have to give their 200% in terms of hard work and dedication. So, you become mentally strong.
Recently, you were seen at a football match between film personalities and sportsmen. Who do you think plays best football from the industry?
Ranbir (Kapoor) plays very well and he is very passionate about the sport. Without fail, every Sunday, he goes for the practice regardless of whether others show up or not. He works out his schedule accordingly for that. He has only gotten better in the last four-five years. Dino Morea and Jim Sarbh play very well. Kartik Aaryan started a year-and-a-half back and he has improved a lot. I couldn’t play for almost a year because I was out of the country to shoot Mubarakan and Half Girlfriend. But if you keep playing and practising, you keep getting better. However, as I did not get a chance to practice much, I was feeling guilty about it. I have promised everyone that I am going to take out time to play and make up for my absence in the past because I really want to be a part of the team.
Do you find it saddening that unlike earlier times, today’s kids don’t play outdoor sports?
It’s very saddening. Today, we have so many options of entertainment that a child — after his/her school — does not need to step out of the house. When we were young, we were almost forced to go out and play outdoors with others. We were asked to play a sport even if we were bad at it. Utna pressure bhi nahi hota tha (There was not much pressure), so we would play. I remember trying my hand at every sport. But I feel it’s mainly in big cities since people in the heartland are still very outdoor-oriented. Once the infrastructure gets better, hopefully, schools will support different sports.
In a city like Mumbai, the situation is even worse…
Unfortunately, in Mumbai, we don’t have enough places for kids to play outdoors. But I have seen that those who are passionate about sports, play cricket and football on roads. We come across stories of South American footballers who used to play on the streets minus any infrastructure, and not even required equipment or shoes. Anyways, football is one of the cheapest games to play. I think once the passion is embedded into people’s lives, it will enhance the opportunities for kids to go out and play the sport.
In the past too, you have been associated with football in Pune. What’s the big goal now?
Yes, Pune and I have had an association in the past when I was the face of the team and also attended a couple of matches. But now our aim is to have an international football star from India in the next 10 years. I would like to —inmy own small way — be a part of something that showcases the Indian talent from a population of one billion people.
I feel in the next ten years, if we find a guy who is about 18-19 and goes on to play internationally, it will change the way we see the sport. It will put us immediately on the world map. We have to produce at least one international quality footballer.
If not, it would be really unfortunate. Keeping in mind the growth of television and the league, the quality of football is also improving, which is great.