Extra-innings!
Cricket and Bollywood go hand-in-hand in India. It’s obviously a mixed combo of action and romance. SNEHA SINGH makes a list of few renowned actor-cricketer duos who have played the game of love, and some other cricketers who appeared on big screen
Cricket and Bollywood are the two lifelines for entertainment in India. Regarded as ‘The Gentleman’s Game’ it holds a special place in every Indian heart, it has the perfect combination of drama, action and emotion just like a Hindi film. And from ages, cricket and Bollywood share a special bond that foretells various stories of link-ups, friendships and not to mention controversies too. While our blue brigade is busy chasing the Champion’s Trophy in England, let’s take a walk down memory lane when some of the ace cricketers were clean bowled by Bollywood beauties, or their brush with the silver screen...
ANUSHKA SHARMA AND VIRAT KOHLI
He is the young charming captain and she is the bold and bindaas beauty of Bollywood. After breaking up with Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma became friends with Virat Kohli.The run chaser lost his heart to Ansuhka and the duo began dating in 2013. Since then their bond has only got much more stronger and they never looked back.These two lovey-dovey couples are often seen enjoying vacation on exquisite locations.They are spotted walking hand-in-hand and they don’t give a damn about media speculations. However, nor Anushka neither Virat have cleared the air about their romantic relationship but they keep posting their adorable pictures on social media for their fans.The cricketer-actor couple never miss a chance of hanging out with each other, because they are just crazy in love.
SAGARIKA GHATGE AND ZAHIR KHAN
Ace fast bowler took everyone by surprise when he posted an adorable picture with Sagarika Ghatge on Twitter and Instagram showing her engagement ring. During IPL, former Indian bowler and The Delhi Daredevil player got hitched in the middle of IPL season 10 with Chak De! girl Sagarika. They chose to keep their relationship under wraps for some time.This adorable couple exchanged rings in Mumbai which was a private affair attended by very few of Bollywood and cricket biggies.
HAZEL KEECH AND YUVRAJ SINGH
The young heartthrob and an inspiration for many budding players Yuvraj Singh is the living legend for Indian cricket. He emerged victorious by defeating deadly cancer and has proved that he is the real defending champion. But Yuvraj always enjoyed playing other kind of matches on Bollywood’s pitch. Our Mr All-rounder has a long list of link-ups and alleged affairs with many Bollywood actresses. Kim Sharma, Preeti Janghiani, Ria Sen, Deepika Padukone, Minisha Lambha, Neha Dhupia but he finally stuck the chord with British-Mauritian model Hazel Keech.They got engaged in 2015, and in the following year on November 30, 2016 the actor-cricketer got married.
GEETA BASRA AND HARBHAJAN SINGH
The Punjabi munda of Indian Cricket team has never left a stone unturned when it comes to performance. Fondly called as Bhajji by his mates, he is another addition to our list who was clean bowled by yet another Bollywood beauty Geeta Basra. According to the spinner he immediately fell for Geeta Basra when he saw her in the song Woh Ajnabee, from the movie The
Train (2007). Eventually the couple exchanged their vows on October 2015, with grand wedding in Jalandhar.
SHARMILA TAGORE AND MANSUR ALI KHAN PATAUDI
Here is another fairy tale romantic story of actor-cricketer duo right from the ’60s.The Bengali beauty, Sharmila Tagore, met the royal cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in Delhi in 1965 while shooting for her movie. For the royal cricketer, it was love at first sight, but for Sharmila, the things were going too fast. But the charming prince somehow managed to win over Sharmila’s consent. And after four years of relationship, they got married on December 27, 1969.This beautiful romantic journey is an epic example of companionship of cricket and Bollywood couples.
NEENA GUPTA AND VIVIAN RICHARDS
Known for her role in critically acclaimed movies like Gandhi, Mandi,
Utsav, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron Neena Gupta was the talk of the town in ’80s when she was in a relationship with former West Indies master blaster Vivian Richards. Hailed as one of the greatest batsmen of all time Richards began dating Indian beauty Gupta and their relationship knew no bounds. Though they never got married, they do have a daughter together, Masaba.
REENA ROY AND MOHSIN KHAN
Love knows no bound, and Mohsin Khan and Reena Roy’s love story is proof of that. Pakistani opener lost his heart to serene and simple beauty Roy. They grabbed the eyeballs of media when they started dating in 1980’s and the former Pakistani-Hindustani couple happily married on April 1, 1983. Soon after the marriage Reena moved to Karachi with Mohsin but when they moved to London the reports of relationship troubles emerged. The couple eventually got divorced.
SANGEETA BIJLANI AND MOHAMMAD AZHARUDDIN
Azhar was an exceptional player on field and out of the pavilion, too.The former Miss India and skipper were cast opposite to each other for a commercial shoot. And that’s where the gossip of these two having an affair started. Azhar was already married to Nureen, but they got divorced post his affair with Sangeeta cropped up.The madly in love couple exchanged their vows in 1996.The couple enjoyed 14 years of blissful journey till 2010 when they ended their marriage.