10 Bollywood superstars who have played sports at a noteworthy level

Bollywood has had a huge role to play in the steady rise of sport in India. The actors and actresses have made it a point to make their presence felt in various sports such as football, cricket and kabaddi, to name a few.

Stars such as Ranbir Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan have also gone one step further and bought shares of teams which participate in sporting leagues. Not only this, some of them have even played the sport themselves!

It's only fair that the superstars get a few well-deserved breaks from their hectic shooting schedule, and what better way to do that than indulging in the sport they love? Here are 5 Bollywood superstars who have also played sports at bigger levels than just their local neighbourhood or home.

#10 Tapasee Panu - squash

Taapsee rose to fame after her spectacular performance in 'Pink', and the actress is not one to shy away from sharing her fitness routine. The 'Ghazi Attack' actress has openly admitted that she loves playing squash and believes that 40-45 minutes of squash time get her into better shape than hitting the gym.

Recently, Saqib Saleem admitted to being beaten black and blue by Taapsee in a game of squash and added that she was really good at the sport. There have also been reports that she and Varun Dhawan consistently met up for a round or two of squash while shooting for their movie 'Judwaa 2'.

#9 Saqib Saleem - cricket

Saqib in action during the CCL

The 'Hawaa Hawaai' star opened up about his love for cricket in a recent interview where he also mentioned that during his childhood, he and Virat Kohli played cricket together.

Prior to taking up acting, Saleem had opted for a career in cricket and even started off well, representing Jammu & Kashmir in the early stages. He then had a short stint for Delhi before moving to Mumbai in search of modeling opportunities.

Once he found a good footing in the film industry, Saleem experience of playing cricket at the state level saw him being chosen as part of the 'Mumbai Heroes' team in the now-defunct Celebrity Cricket League.

Saleem has also played a role in the cricket-centric movie titled 'Dishoom'.

#8 Randeep Hooda - polo

Randeep Hooda on the polo ground

The 'Kick' and 'Once upon a time in Mumbai' actor is known as one of the most expressive actors on screen, but a unique factor that sets him apart from the rest of Bollywood is his love for horses.

Unknown to many, Randeep is a professional polo player and has taken to the sport quite seriously in the last couple of years. He owns nearly half a dozen horses in Mumbai and whenever he has some free time, the actor enjoys racing. He has even won several medals in the sport of polo.

In a bid to spread the game's reach and to educate people about the sport, Hooda bought his own polo team which he later named 'Royal Roosters' in 2013. The actor has taken part in several contests with his team and has also roped in other jockeys from around the world to represent it.

#7 Ranbir Kapoor - football

Ranbir (R) in action against Virat Kohli's AHCF during the Celebrity Classico 2016

One of the biggest heartthrobs of Indian cinema, Ranbir Kapoor has been spotted flaunting his football skills in many charity games and domestic tournaments. The 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' star admits to having taken a fondness for the game from a very young age, and he essays the role of the forward/striker.

Recently, Ranbir was seen honing his skills ahead of a friendly contest against the CISF as he was a key member of the celebrity team that was set to face off against the team from the Armed Forces. Apart from this, Ranbir was also a part of the Celebrity Classico in 2016 that featured the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Abhishek Bachchan amongst others.

In the Indian Super League, Ranbir co-owns Mumbai City FC, a team that represents his hometown, Mumbai. According to reports, Ranbir is set to feature in a friendly against AHFC, a club that features Indian cricketers.

#6 John Abraham - football

John Abraham tries his hand at some football tricks

One of the most high-profile football lovers in the country, John has represented India A-division as a center-forward. He has sheepishly admitted that he found his love for football as he watched the 1982 World Cup with his father.

Such is his love for the game that he has played the role of a footballer in the movie 'Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal!' in which he portrays a footballer from the small town of Southall. The Madras Cafe star has captained his school and college football teams and remains a huge admirer of the game.

Apart from making movies in which he generally slots into the hitman's role owing to his muscular physique, John actively participates in charity events and has also lent his presence to many football-centric advertisements.

Currently, he co-owns Northeast United FC, a football team that plays in the Indian Super League. In European football, he supports Barcelona and Liverpool.

#5 Rahul Bose - rugby

Rahul Bose training an upcoming batch of rugby players in Kashmir

Rahul Bose is an actor who has many special talents and one among them is his participation in sports. The versatile actor has several achievements in the sport of rugby.

While many people find it tough to get a grip on the game's rules and style of play, Rahul went on to represent India at the highest level for over 25 years before finally deciding to hang up his boots in 2008.

The actor recently directed and produced a movie titled 'Poorna: Courage has no limit', and he actively participates in social service activities. With his multi-faceted talents and inspirational work, Rahul is a role model for many youngsters.

#4 Deepika Padukone - badminton

Deepika Padukone in action during a shoot for Nike

It's no surprise that Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone has excelled not only in acting but also in the sport of badminton. Daughter of one of India's greatest badminton players Prakash Padukone, Deepika played the sport and represented her school during her childhood.

As years passed by, she became even more adept at the sport and stepped foot into the national scenario, before modeling caught her eye. The 'Ramleela' and 'Bajirao Mastani' star credits her father for supporting her in her decision to shift from badminton to the world of glitz and glamour, but admits that her initial aim was to be one of the country's best badminton players.

According to sources, Deepika continues to excel at badminton and takes every opportunity to hit the court when she can!

#3 Shah Rukh Khan - cricket and hockey

SRK looks to hoist one over the fence during an owner's match against PWI (PC: BCCI)

'King Khan' has had a huge role to play in the rise of sports - not only in India but all over the world. Owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, he is also now a stakeholder in the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. The latest addition to his list is the Cape Town Knight Riders from CSA's T20 Global League.

SRK's love for sports started right from his childhood when he represented his school in cricket and hockey. At one point he captained his school team in both the sports.

The superstar has tried his hand at cricket during the team owner's match in the IPL where he has generally kept wickets and opened the innings for his team, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

#2 Aamir Khan - tennis

Aamir Khan enjoying himself during an exhibition match with his favorite tennis player Roger Federer.

Aamir Khan has played a part in some huge sport-related blockbusters. In Lagaan, he essayed the role of 'Bhuvan', a savior for his village as they battled the English empire in a game of cricket. 15 years later, he played a wrestler in the movie 'Dangal'.

However, one thing many fans do not know is that Aamir Khan played state level tennis, as mentioned by his father Takir Hussain in an interview. He had one foot in the national scene too until he shifted his focus to acting. The 'Dhoom 3' actor represented his school in many tournaments and also led the school team.

Aamir enjoys watching Roger Federer play and the actor has been spotted playing tennis in his spare time on many occasions.

#1 Akshay Kumar - martial arts

Akshay Kumar during a bout of kickboxing ahead of a shoot

There's a reason why Akshay Kumar looks like a natural when he pulls off stunts and fighting scenes in his movies. It's because he's a black belt holder in taekwondo and has also learned the ancient art of Muay Thai.

Not only martial arts, 'Akki' is also adept at basketball, swimming and kickboxing, which help him keep in shape. In 2004, he started to produce, direct and host the show 'Seven Deadly Arts with Akshay Kumar' which exhibits the arts of Shaolin Kung Fu, karate, taekwondo, aikido, muay thai, capoeira and kalaripayattu.

The actor has had a series of hits such as 'Rustom', 'Airlift', 'Baby' among others and considering his martial arts background, there's no stopping him from breaking more barriers in the future.