There was a time when cricketers in the eighties and nineties rubbed shoulders with their favourite Bollywood stars at the Sharjah Cricket stadium. These days you're more likely to see these exchanges in the Indian Premier League.
Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, who brought international cricket to the UAE, used to invite India's top Bollywood stars to the Sharjah matches, adding glitter off the field, in addition to the excitement on the field.
Lalit Modi, the chairman and commissioner of IPL, a shrewd businessman, must have studied the buzz created by the mere presence of these stars during the Sharjah matches.
It was while reporting on those Sharjah matches that I spotted Indian cricketers walking up to the VIP boxes to catch a glimpse of stars like Raj Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore and play back singer Lata Mangeshkar.
And today, many members of Bollywood are owners of IPL teams as they seek not only to boost their images but to swell their earnings as well.
Cricketers too have benefited from such associations. A case in point is that of Bret Lee singing a Hindi song with singer Asha Bhonsle.
So when one meets Lee for an interview these days, don't be surprised if he starts off in Hindi with that patent smile, "Ksa hai?" (How are you?) But the funny part is that even before you answer back, he says, "Theek hai" (I am fine).
Maybe he believes that the first question must be followed by the second phrase, or he's making sure you don't ask him anything back in Hindi!
Today, many international cricketers do show an interest in watching Bollywood movies. Most of them start watching the ones that star their owners or the brand ambassadors of their team. Then there a few who manage to hum a few Hindi tunes thanks to the 45 days spent with Indian teammates, who are constantly playing their favourite songs.
At the Festival of Sydney event, Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman staged his Jai Ho concert. After the concert, Australian opener Matthew Hayden went backstage and met Rahman. Later he went on to comment that Rahman was a humble and inspirational person.
Cricket fans are also keen to watch Shah Rukh Khan's expressions after his team's performance. IPL is a hit because it blends action, emotion, music and dance to provide wholesome entertainment.
