Celebrities who are kabaddi fans

The high-energy contact sport of kabaddi has recently shot up the popularity charts in India, and that is all thanks to the unique concept of Pro Kabaddi introduced by Star Sports.But the thrill of the game aside, another reason for the stupendous success of this sport is that many celebrities from different fields have backed it. Their star power and constant presence during matches have helped in the promotion of Indias indigenous sport, bringing in a lot of new fans.The Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, which is celebrating its third season, has seen a steady rise in the number of celebs associating themselves with the sport over the years.Aamir Khan kicked off the third season in January with his mellifluous rendition of the national anthem. Apart from him, other celebrities like Monali Thakur, Usha Uthup, Alia Bhatt and Yash have also recited the anthem during the tournament.Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Suniel Shetty, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh and Rishi Kapoor have also shown their support for the sport. The cricketing world has also been smitten by the sport with Rahul Dravid and , arguably, the greatest player to play the sport, Sachin Tendulkar, revealing his love for kabaddi.Here are a few instances of celebs helping to bolster kabaddi:

#1 Abhishek Bachchan, Ronnie Screwvala

Abhishek Bachchan (L) and Ronnie Screwvala (R) own teams in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who has diversified into different sports lately, struck immediate success with kabaddi. The Jaipur Pink Panthers, owned and managed by Bachchan Jr., won the inaugural edition of the PKL by defeating U Mumba in the final.

Abhishek, who got interested in the sport after watching his father play it in a film, is actively involved in motivating his players before and after every match. He said that he did not need to think twice about investing in kabaddi as he felt it was only a matter of time before it caught the imagination of the masses.

“I had played kabaddi casually as a kid and felt that it was dying to erupt on the sporting stage,” said Jr Bachchan.

Founder and former CEO of UTV Group Ronnie Screwvala, who owns the U Mumba franchise, has been equally successful as his side emerged winners in the second season. The sports enthusiast, who has delivered many Bollywood hits, recently revealed his plans of making a film on kabaddi.

“We are looking for a human angle in the storyline, after which we will take the plan forward,” Screwvala said.

#2 Rana Daggubati

Rana Daggubati (2nd from R) poses with Rahul Chaudhari (C) from Telugu Titans

Baahubali star and avid kabaddi fan Rana Daggubati became the ambassador of the PKL Season 3 this year. The 31-year-old has actively participated in promoting the indigenous sport across various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

“For me, kabaddi has always been a fun sport growing up, and I'm excited that Star India has pushed the envelope in promoting the sport and making it even more popular in this new format. I’m particularly excited to meet the amazingly talented players as I am also their fan. This will be a great experience,” said the actor after taking on his new role.

Daggubati is seen at the venues quite often, pumping his fists and cheering vociferously at every raid or tackle.

Here is a video of him Rana Daggubati revealing his allegiances and his association with Kabaddi:

#3 Sonam Kapoor

From l-r: Kashiling Adake, Ravinder Pahal, Sonam Kapoor and Ram Madhvani

Sonam Kapoor, who portrayed the courageous flight attendant Neerja Bhanot in the film Neerja, visited the stadia during the Pune and Delhi legs of PKL3. The actress said that she could relate the fearless spirit shown in kabaddi to the role she played in her recently-released film.

Sonam also said that she loves watching team sports and that kabaddi has a unique way of showing the thrills of a team sport.

Here is a video of Sonam Kapoor talking about kabaddi:

#4 Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is often seen in the stadium cheering for Jaipur Pink Panthers

Amitabh Bachchan is not just an acting virtuoso, but a skilled singer as well. The legend lent his famous baritone to the PKL’s catchy promotional song ‘Le Panga’.

The megastar also gave a wonderful rendition of the national anthem at the inauguration of the second season of PKL. Bachchan later said that was a moment of honour and pride for him.

Sr. Bachchan has a long-standing association with kabaddi, with the sport featuring prominently in his movie “Ganga ki Saugandh”. Having now sung the promotional songs in the second and third seasons, his fans will be hoping that his association with the sport stays for long.

Listen to the Le Panga song by Amitabh Bachchan:

#5 Aditi Rao Hydari

Aditi Rao Hydari sang the national anthem in Season 3

Wazir star Aditi Rao Hydari, who sang the national anthem this year, confessed to being a dedicated kabaddi fan ever since her childhood. The 29-year-old said she grew up playing the sport and that she thoroughly loves the vibrancy that the sport brings.

“I think the fact that it’s really high-energy and there’s not a single dull moment; it’s like totally crazy,” she said, when asked about her favourite thing about the sport.