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Team Kolkata co-owner Juhi Chawla talks about their four-year struggle, superstitions that she gave up and Shah Rukh Khan's plans to take off his clothes and dance tonight
Four years of trials and heartbreak andTeam Kolkata is here in the finals. How does it feel?
Wonderful! Half of me still can't come to terms with it. The other half is anxious. I hope we manage to take the last leap and get to lift the cup. I'm praying that we do. Over the past four years, we've been through all kinds of experiences. There have been many emotional lows. Then, there are friends and family who always know the game better than the team. They would say, 'You should have tried this', 'Why didn't you do that?' Now is the time to answer back. The team has been solid and for the past two years, the administrative team too is doing a great job. Since we have been through the grind, success tastes sweeter. What's more, the humility is bound to stay with us since we have faced a lot in the past.
What went wrong with Team Kolkata in the past few seasons?
Kyun mooh khulwana chahti ho? It was all part of a learning experience. We are all new to IPL... this whole business of cricket. Putting together a team wasn't easy. And yes, we have learnt and now, we can put the past behind.
In the earlier editions of the game, Team Kolkata didn't even make it to the semifinals. Didn't you feel disgusted and want to run away from the IPL extravaganza?
How many times have I run away from the stadium? Thank God, IPL lasts for one-and-a-half months. Had it been an all-year round experience, I would have died of anxiety. I remember during the second season of the IPL in South Africa, the team was losing one match after another. Leave aside making it to the stadium, I wouldn't even catch the glimpses. This time around, I want to be there and scream my lungs out.
Any superstitions - like a lucky dress or a lucky companion - for today's match?
Earlier, I used to do all of that. I wouldn't change T-shirts or shoes for days on end. I wouldn't even change positions at the stadium. I did that until last year. This year, I made no such effort, though I visited Kalighat. Whenever I'm in Kolkata, I go to the temple. If we win the IPL, I would love to come back and tell the Goddess, 'Maa, thank you'.
If the team does win the cup, how will you celebrate?
I would go mad with joy. Shah Rukh had said he would take off his clothes and dance. I too wouldn't mind dancing all night. I'm not a party person, but if we do win, I would like to come back and meet Mamataji (Banerjee) with the cup. Ultimately, it would be Kolkata's victory. I know Kolkatans were divided over their loyalties for the team and Dada ( Sourav Ganguly). But this team is very much Kolkata's. The city is as much wedded to the team as we are to the city. The Gautam Gambhir factor must have worked in favour of the team... That little boy has shown his grit and the best part is that, he has remained grounded and focused. His faith in his players has worked wonders. No matter what, he stayed with them.
This year, we didn't see much of you at the grounds. Had you given up on the team early in the season?
And you saw more of Shah Rukh, no? I'd been travelling a lot. Thanks to Jai, I'm always on my toes. I did make it to Eden Gardens for many a match. I'll be in Chennai for the finals. My family and all my friends in Mumbai want to tag along.
You've known Shah Rukh closely as a friend and a co-actor. How is he as a team co-owner?
We would speak on and off. We met up during the matches in Kolkata. After every win, we would call each other up. Over the years, we have shared many emotional moments. This year too, there have been few.
Didn't SRK's ban from Wankhede come as a shocker? I really don't know what transpired and I can't bank on the media either because at times, incidents are blown out of proportion. But yes, tempers can flare on the ground. Shah Rukh was there with the kids and those in the uniform could have been a little more considerate. After all, he is Shah Rukh Khan. He isn't a criminal, but a team owner. Whatever happened shouldn't have happened.
Once the IPL gets over, what hair care advice would you give Sunil Narine?
After the last match, when I called up Shah Rukh, he was in the dressing room talking to Narine. Shah Rukh was telling him, 'Make my hair like yours'. Maybe after the finals, we would all want to sport Narine's hairdo.
Who's your favourite this IPL?
The one who surprised us the most is Chris Gayle. We were like, 'Why wasn't he like this when he was part of our team?' This season, he even hit the ball out of the ground. I think he was simply outstanding.
Four years of trials and heartbreak andTeam Kolkata is here in the finals. How does it feel?
Wonderful! Half of me still can't come to terms with it. The other half is anxious. I hope we manage to take the last leap and get to lift the cup. I'm praying that we do. Over the past four years, we've been through all kinds of experiences. There have been many emotional lows. Then, there are friends and family who always know the game better than the team. They would say, 'You should have tried this', 'Why didn't you do that?' Now is the time to answer back. The team has been solid and for the past two years, the administrative team too is doing a great job. Since we have been through the grind, success tastes sweeter. What's more, the humility is bound to stay with us since we have faced a lot in the past.
What went wrong with Team Kolkata in the past few seasons?
Kyun mooh khulwana chahti ho? It was all part of a learning experience. We are all new to IPL... this whole business of cricket. Putting together a team wasn't easy. And yes, we have learnt and now, we can put the past behind.
In the earlier editions of the game, Team Kolkata didn't even make it to the semifinals. Didn't you feel disgusted and want to run away from the IPL extravaganza?
How many times have I run away from the stadium? Thank God, IPL lasts for one-and-a-half months. Had it been an all-year round experience, I would have died of anxiety. I remember during the second season of the IPL in South Africa, the team was losing one match after another. Leave aside making it to the stadium, I wouldn't even catch the glimpses. This time around, I want to be there and scream my lungs out.
Any superstitions - like a lucky dress or a lucky companion - for today's match?
Earlier, I used to do all of that. I wouldn't change T-shirts or shoes for days on end. I wouldn't even change positions at the stadium. I did that until last year. This year, I made no such effort, though I visited Kalighat. Whenever I'm in Kolkata, I go to the temple. If we win the IPL, I would love to come back and tell the Goddess, 'Maa, thank you'.
If the team does win the cup, how will you celebrate?
I would go mad with joy. Shah Rukh had said he would take off his clothes and dance. I too wouldn't mind dancing all night. I'm not a party person, but if we do win, I would like to come back and meet Mamataji (Banerjee) with the cup. Ultimately, it would be Kolkata's victory. I know Kolkatans were divided over their loyalties for the team and Dada ( Sourav Ganguly). But this team is very much Kolkata's. The city is as much wedded to the team as we are to the city. The Gautam Gambhir factor must have worked in favour of the team... That little boy has shown his grit and the best part is that, he has remained grounded and focused. His faith in his players has worked wonders. No matter what, he stayed with them.
This year, we didn't see much of you at the grounds. Had you given up on the team early in the season?
And you saw more of Shah Rukh, no? I'd been travelling a lot. Thanks to Jai, I'm always on my toes. I did make it to Eden Gardens for many a match. I'll be in Chennai for the finals. My family and all my friends in Mumbai want to tag along.
You've known Shah Rukh closely as a friend and a co-actor. How is he as a team co-owner?
We would speak on and off. We met up during the matches in Kolkata. After every win, we would call each other up. Over the years, we have shared many emotional moments. This year too, there have been few.
Didn't SRK's ban from Wankhede come as a shocker? I really don't know what transpired and I can't bank on the media either because at times, incidents are blown out of proportion. But yes, tempers can flare on the ground. Shah Rukh was there with the kids and those in the uniform could have been a little more considerate. After all, he is Shah Rukh Khan. He isn't a criminal, but a team owner. Whatever happened shouldn't have happened.
Once the IPL gets over, what hair care advice would you give Sunil Narine?
After the last match, when I called up Shah Rukh, he was in the dressing room talking to Narine. Shah Rukh was telling him, 'Make my hair like yours'. Maybe after the finals, we would all want to sport Narine's hairdo.
Who's your favourite this IPL?
The one who surprised us the most is Chris Gayle. We were like, 'Why wasn't he like this when he was part of our team?' This season, he even hit the ball out of the ground. I think he was simply outstanding.
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