BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has recently shared a captivating anecdote about his involvement in the making of the iconic Bollywood film, 'Chak De India'. In a recent interview, Shukla revealed that he received a call from the late Yash Chopra, the film's producer, seeking assistance during the movie's production.
'Chak De India', released in 2007, tells the inspiring story of the Indian women's national hockey team and their journey to success. Shah Rukh Khan played the lead role in the film. Rajeev Shukla, who was the manager of the Indian men's cricket team at the time, played a significant role behind the scenes.
Shukla recounted how the Indian cricket team, who were in England for a series, expressed their desire to watch the film in Manchester. Yash Chopra reciprocated and arranged a special screening for the team, followed by dinner. Shukla also recalled an instance where the players wanted to watch the play 'Bombay Dreams' during an overseas tour. As arranging the tickets wasn't easy, Shukla reached out to Shah Rukh Khan, who contacted choreographer Farah Khan, who then made the necessary arrangements with the play's makers. The entire Indian team was invited to watch the play and had dinner.
In the same conversation, Rajeev Shukla shared stories that highlight Sachin Tendulkar's global appeal. He recalled an instance where a British crowd gathered outside the Indian dressing room to get Tendulkar's autograph. He also mentioned how Bobby Charlton, the former chairman of Manchester United, invited Tendulkar to a football game and gifted him a book on the club's history.