Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who owns the Kolkata team of the Indian Premier League (IPL), on Wednesday said he opted for cricket because it is commercially viable for him and not because he favoured the popular sport over other disciplines.
"Commerce and business are very important in today's world. Cricket is commercially viable and we need to make money from this sport," Shah Rukh said in Pune.
However, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi appealed to the superstar to share his celeb status with other sports also.
"I am very happy with Chak de India and the work you did for hockey. But I'm disappointed you went back to cricket. I want you to be made the ambassador of the Commonwealth Games and Olympic sports in India," said Kalmadi at the inauguration of the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Cup.
"There are around 10 nations playing cricket at the moment and over 200 countries competing in Olympic sports. Cricket has many fathers and I would love to have you as the brand ambassador for the Commonwealth Games," he added.
However, the comments did not go well with the actor, who took a jibe at Kalmadi.
"Please don't feel bad that I am backing only one sport. Sports should be part of our second nature and I am a sportsperson by heart."
"I have played hockey and a bit of cricket. I have something to clarify to Kalmadi also ... please don't feel bad that I am backing the cricket team. I need to make money from this sport and then move to other sports," added Shah Rukh.
Shah Rukh said he believes that the next step for sports-loving persons like him is to take the money he earns from IPL to other sports.
"[My] next step would be to take it [money earned in IPL] to hockey, football, kho kho, also kabaddi and gulli danda," he remarked.
The film star said one should not look down upon any sport and added he wants to see the football team playing in the World Cup.
"We should not look down upon any sport. We need to use this sport [cricket] to uplift other sports."
