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I really wanted to be a part of ISL, says King Khan
KOLKATA: After a number of starts recently flaunting their football teams, King Khan, who already co-owns a cricket team, expressed his disappointment at not being able to be a part of the Indian Super League (ISL).
The Baadshah of Bollywood who tried to buy the Kolkata franchise of the ISL said that he could not bring himself to buying another city.
“I will say something which is unfortunate and sad for me. I really wanted to be a part of ISL and I wanted to own a football team but there was no way that I would have got Kolkata and if I can’t have Kolkata I can’t have any other city,” the superstar reckoned.
“I was offered every other city but I said I won’t do it,” he added. “If we play football we have to play for Kolkata, you don’t play for any other city. I have all my love for Mumbai and Delhi but the city I back is Kolkata.”
The brand ambassador of West Bengal, who was in Kolkata to promote his latest film Happy New Year described Kolkata as his ‘home’.
“This is my hometown. I have been all over the world to promote this film. But I told them that one place where you have to come is Kolkata which is my own city,” SRK said.
He, however, congratulated Ganguly, the co-owner for the ISL’s Kolkata franchise. “More deserving than me is ‘dada’ (Ganguly) and he should have it and I can’t compete with him…I wish ‘dada’ and everyone in the championship. I hope it does well.”
He said the team is in better hands than him and would do well.
“Even today when I was flying down I felt very sad that I don’t have the football team of Kolkata. I started IPL because I was told that IPL will extend into soccer. My love is for football. I play football, my son plays football and my daughter is the captain in football,” the actor-producer revealed.
He also went to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Happy New Year co-actors Sonu Sood, Vivaan Shah and director Farah Khan. “She has told me that she has liked my film although I don’t think she had the time to watch the whole film. She is the ‘didi’ (elder sister), I do not see her only as a chief minister,” Khan said.
Khan, who also co-owns IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, said he had met everyone involved to buy the Kolkata ISL franchisee which was eventually bought jointly by former cricketer Sourav Ganguly, businessmen Harshavardhan Neotia, Sanjiv Goenka, Utsav Parekh and Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
