Nobody has the passion to buy a stake in KKR: SRK

Nobody has the passion and heart to buy a stake in Kolkata Knight Riders,” declares Shah Rukh Khan, defying the claim made by mystery blogger Fake IPL Player that the star had found investors for the team. To HT City’s request to comment on Fake IPL Player, SRK simply replies, “I don’t do fake.”

When he returned from South Africa almost two weeks ago, Shah Rukh had sounded dejected over KKR’s performance. But his passion for his team and the game seems to have become even stronger. “You don’t need just money to run KKR — we have our wonderful sponsors for that — what you need is love, and in that department I am the king,” he states.

Rumours that he wants to wash his hands of cricket are just that, he contends. “The pressure to perform is greater now, but when you see Deccan and Bangalore turn it around in a year… I’m sure so can we.” UK-based brand valuation firm Intangible Business, in collaboration with MTI Consulting, has declared KKR the richest IPL team valued at $22 million.

“The valuation makes me smile a bit, [but] it will make me happy when our team provides value to our supporters on the field and makes them proud to be with KKR,” says Shah Rukh. He has a special promise for kids: “I want to promise them again this year… that the KKR shirts will be smaller for them in 2010, but they will never feel small wearing them as supporters.”

As for the performance, he takes the entire responsibility upon himself. “We don’t hate failure enough,” says the man who has seldom failed as a star. “The blame should completely rest on my shoulders. It’s my duty to overcome this year’s performance… how, when, who… too many details for an interview... I don’t like being a loser and I’ll pragmatically and passionately turn this around. Inshallah.”

As of now, it’s back to being Rizwan Khan in Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan, and SRK calls it one of his most intricate roles so far. “It is an exercise in bringing technique and emotions together.”