Bollywood King says he can only entertain, sell movie tickets and admits he hasn't got a grasp of the IPL juggernaut yet
Bollywood King says he can only entertain, sell movie tickets and admits he hasn't got a grasp of the IPL juggernaut yet
MUMBAI: He is the king at the box-office but as D-day comes closer Shah Rukh Khan is busy chewing his finger nails.
It’s not his next Bollywood release that is keeping him on edge. Rather whether or not cricket fans take a liking for the Kolkata Knight Riders; the IPL team for whose franchisee rights his entertainment company shelled out close to $ 80 million, is keeping SRK on tenterhooks.
“This is a new venture and I am very nervous and stressed out. If this was a film show it would have been house full,” he said before handing out the tickets to the first buyer — a member of the Cricket Association of Bengal.
Admitting that he was entering unknown waters, Shah Rukh said on Monday, “I really don’t know too much about this. Even for my company I don’t handle the administrative part. I don’t understand the business too well, but from what I hear from people who usually deal with ticket sales they tell me that cricket ticket sales have a different trend.
Genuinely, I feel that there are many things I cannot understand properly right now and it may take a few more years. Here there are a lot of unknowns, hopefully the first cricket match we host in Kolkata will be a hit. When you start something new passion is important but you have to be ready for lot of unknowns.”
Incidentally, Shah Rukh has told a Bengali daily last week, “To tell the truth, deep inside, I am very tired. With due respect to all rules and regulations and government norms, I never thought so many problems would crop up when I bought the Knight Riders. I was not prepared for these circumstances.
I do not want to blame any organization or association. But, a rosy picture, removed from reality, was painted to me.” However, Shah Rukh less perturbed about on Monday when asked if there was any news of waiver on entertainment tax.
“I have not got any feedback, but I hope it gets reduced and becomes affordable. Also it is not that you can have a full show there and the entertainment package can’t be for more than 10 to 15 minutes on the cricket field. I am an entertainer and it would be nice if I can do something innovative to entertain the crowds.
I can sell the entertainment part of knight riders. The cricket will have to be attractive. I can only sell tickets of films, while cricket will have to sell tickets of cricket.”
The superstar is also worried if he will be able to provide the best possible facilities for fans. “It’s my duty that everyone who comes has a great experience and watch the game comfortably. I want it to be like a preview show of one of my movies.
I want to do up the whole stadium, put sofas, have great sound, cheerleaders etc etc... The best that you can get in the country. I don’t want to be told that 10 people had tickets but didn’t get entry to watch Kolkata Knight Riders play or hear about a lady fan being mistreated or child getting hurt. I am worried about that.”
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