Bollywood and Cricket have a special place in hearts of Indians. Legends in these fields are not only idolized as heroes but worshipped as Gods by Indians. When reports of celebrities from both fields start dating each other, it becomes the centre of attention!
Here’s a look at 10 such instances of Bollywood-Cricket romances:-
– by Atharva Apte
1. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma
In perhaps the biggest news to break out in 2017, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma decided to tie the knot in Tuscany, Italy on December 11, 2017. Their marriage received sensational attention on social media.
Virat and Anushka first met in 2013 and did a TV commercial together following which they became good friends. Anushka accompanied Virat on India’s 2014 tour of New Zealand and the duo was spotted together. Later that year, Virat accepted that the two are in a relationship.
Virat-Anushka relationship has had their ups and downs. In 2016 a news of their fallout broke out when they unfollowed each other on Instagram. Weeks before their marriage, the couple appeared in a Manyavar advertisement where they were seen talking about how married life goes. The advertisement was a big hit and enthralled all the fans
2. Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra
The Indian off-spinner married Geeta Basra on October 29, 2015, after years of being friend with. Geeta was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire and has acted in few films after her debut film Dil Diya Hai in 2006.
Geeta gave birth to a beautiful princess on July 27, 2016, named Heena Plaha Heer.
3. Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech
After news of having relationships with Kim Sharma and Deepika Padukone, India’s 2011 World Cup star decided to make Hazel Keech love of his life.
The marriage ceremony took place on November 30, 2016, in Chandigarh. After marriage, Hazel adopted the name “Gurbasant Kaur”, which was given to her by Sant Balvinder Singh during the wedding ceremony.
4. Zaheer Khan and Sagarika Ghatge
The left arm seamer married his long-time girlfriend Sagarika Ghatge in a court marriage on November 23, 2017. Sagarika is known for her role in ‘Chakde India!’ for which she won Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The reports of the couple dating were trending on social media for a long time but both Zaheer and Sagarika remained silent about that before.
On April 24, 2017, they officially announced on Twitter about their relationship, following which engagement took place the very next month and wedding bells rang on November 23.
5. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore
In perhaps the most glamourous Bollywood-Cricket romance of the 1960s, Tiger Pataudi married the then queen of cinemas Sharmila Tagore on December 27, 1968.
Sharmila changed her religion to Muslim and name to Ayesha Sultan after the marriage. The couple had three children Saif Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan, and Saba Ali Khan. They spent 42 years together before Mansoor’s death in 20111.
6. Mohammad Azharuddin and Sangeeta Bijlani
Darpan Magazine)
The Tridev actress married the then Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin on November 14, 1996, after her relationship with Salman Khan ended. Azhar divorced his first wife to marry Sangeeta. However, things didn’t end well as the couple parted ways in 2010 after Azhar’s alleged affair with Jwala Gutta.
7. Sourav Ganguly and Nagma
The former Indian captain was in the early part of best years of his career when a news of him having an affair with South Indian actress Nagma started going viral. As per reports, two were seen performing a Pooja at a South Indian temple in 2001.
Amidst of all this, Sourav’s wife Dona showed full faith in her husband describing the reports as ‘Rubbish’. In a 2003 interview with the Savvy magazine, Nagma admitted having a little flirt with Ganguly but said they ended the relationship for a greater cause.
8. Ajay Jadeja and Madhuri Dixit
This may sound flabbergasting! But Ajay Jadeja was involved with Madhuri Dixit. He also did a photo session with her for a film magazine and there were reports of dating each other and doing a movie as well. Both of them did not deny but eventually, Madhuri married Sriram Nene.
9. Isha Shravani and Zaheer Khan
Way before Zaheer Khan and Sagarika’s affair started taking rounds on social media, it was Kisna actress that had caught Zak’s eye. The two were in a relationship for almost 8 years and marriage was planned but things didn’t work out as planned.
10. Kapil Dev and Sarika
The World Cup-winning captain of 1983 was rumoured dating actress Sarika Thakur in the early 80s. However, after that, there was not much talk about their relationship and Kapil eventually married Romi Bhatia.
– by Atharva Apte