For love of the game

While many of our actors are crazy about football, it may come as a surprise that quite a few of our actresses are die-hard fans of the game as well. With just over a week left for the Soccer World Cup to start in Brazil, we track down a few actresses who are fans of the game and find out their plans for the World Cup.

Ankita Sharma, who plays the negative lead role of Laila in the popular TV soap Rang Rasiya, says, “The game itself is an addiction. Soccer is the world’s most celebrated game. It is the only game where you see emotions not only from the players but also from fans across globe.

“I love Manchester United but if you are talking about the World Cup, I am for Portugal. My favourite player is Cristiano Ronaldo.

“For the semi-finals and finals, my girlfriends and I have a tradition we book a bungalow in Lonavala and all of us wear the jerseys of our favourite teams and watch the matches. We cook some good food and enjoy the match by the poolside.  For the initial matches we will hit the sports bar and will cheer our teams on the plasma screen.”

Model and actress Iris Maity, meanwhile, has a more personal connection with the game. Her father, Bhaskar Maity, is a former football player who had represented India in the Asian Games, 1979.  

Iris, who is the winner of Channel V - Get Gorgeous V and who features in the soap Hum Ne Li Hain Shapat, says, “My favourite player is Iniesta, the magician. He plays for FC Barcelona. This Spanish legend has won millions of hearts including mine. He has extraordinary skills with a touch of class. This World Cup I am supporting Portugal. I have been a huge fan of Arsenal right from my school days.

“As I have a busy schedule, I will watch the games whenever I get the time. It’s what the entire world has been waiting for. But if I have an off, I would love to watch it with my mad gang.”

Actress Shikha Singh who plays Princess Shikhandini in Mahabharat says, “I love sports and I had this friend who was crazy about football and followed a club and after I learnt more about it, even I fell in love with the sport.

“I’m a Liverpool fan and for the World Cup I want England to win.

“I will watch the matches with my friends. I will be in the US during the World Cup and will hit some sports bars there.”