It’s war between Ranbir Kapoor and me: Arjun Kapoor on his football rivalry on-field

John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, and Ranbir Kapoor already have teams in the ongoing Indian Super League. Now, Arjun Kapoor, too, has become the co-owner of the Pune team in the football league. Here, he opens up about his love for the sport, battling it out against good friend Ranbir and the thing that separates him from his ‘baba’ Ranveer! 

How much of a football enthusiast have you been since childhood?

When I was 15 years of age, I started following Chelsea and that’s when I turned to football. That was mainly because I loved this player called Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The internet was new to us and the matches were not on TV that often. It used to come once a week but I got very enamoured by football and I started taking interest in the sport. It’s been 17-18 years since I have been a fan of that club, and football in India has grown so much in these years, in terms of telecast. I was a fan back then because I never played it as a kid and I wish I had. Even now, I enjoy playing whatever little I do. I am blessed to have this opportunity. Becoming a co-owner, I somewhere feel I’m living my childhood dream vicariously through this football club. 

Tiger Shroff wanted to become a footballer and not an actor...

(Cuts in) He’s an amazing footballer. I have not played with Tiger, but I have watched him play. He’s an athlete and just the physicality that he has, will allow him to pick up any sport that he wants to. He was in an American school and was the captain of the football team. I guess he even got a chance to play basketball for our country. So, any boy who wants to see a well-rounded physical specimen, Tiger is a great example. The way he conducts himself; his discipline comes because of his inclination for sport. 

Have you ever had aspirations to become a footballer?

I’m 32! You have to be realistic. And when I was 15, I looked like a football myself (laughs). I didn’t aspire to do anything when I was 15. I was just a lost child. I was not this passionate about any sport to that degree. It just grew over the years. If you see my life, my first 15 years have just gone in discovering myself. After that, I started discovering my passions, what I wanted to be. A lot of people want to find clarity at an early age. I took a bit of time. I made my debut at the age of 25-26 because I discovered that wish of becoming an actor also a little late. Others work towards it since they are 17-18. I did that at 23. That way, I am bit of an opposite case. 

The lack of my playing as a kid doesn’t override my love for the sport. I have never let that come in the way. I understand, love and observe the game. As a kid, all I used to play was Football Manager which used to come every year. It’s the biggest computer simulation game in the world, which I would play night after night. Basically, you become the manager of a team to make it successful. From a young age, I have been inclined towards this ownership module. As a kid, I have imagined having a club that I can mould and now, in my small capacity, I will be able to do that. 

Why have you bought a team after four years?

The opportunity didn’t arise in the first four years. Also, back then, I was just two films old and I was figuring out my life as an actor. It was not on my mind then. I became the face and brand ambassador and it was pretty much that. Two to three years down the line, this would be something I would like to do on a serious level and not just be a face. So, it happened that they came back to me with a thought in place. It made sense because I’m comfortable with these guys. I’m not somebody who has ever done things because they are in vogue. There has to be some reason within you to try it. It’s a commitment and not an event. 

Ranbir Kapoor and you bond over the sport. What will be the scene between you two when your teams play against each other?

This time when Mumbai plays Pune, Ranbir and I will be at war (laughs). Ranbir and I can’t be friends for now, we are in for a war, something like a Battle Royale (laughs again). All our friends will have to wear the Mumbai jersey in the first half and the Pune one for the second half. It’s going to be a great game and I would rather have the game have the value, than Ranbir and me. We both are football fanatics and we love the sport and the fact that we own teams. But yes, I can assure you that the friendly banter is going to be there. There will be an edge to those games for sure. 

Will we see you guys playing on the field, too?

We can’t just walk in and play for ISL (smiles). But whatever is needed or we can do, we will definitely do! After all, we are all friends. 

What about Ranveer Singh, is he supporting you?

Ranveer and I have a big issue between us. We support two rival teams. Gunday mein hum same ladki se pyaar kar baithe the, personal life mein we are the same people and are passionate about similar things. But the one big differentiating factor is he’s Arsenal and I’m Chelsea. That divide will never be crossed (smiles).

How did he react to you owning a team?

He is very happy for me because he knows it’s a big deal for me.  

Usually we see all owners present at the stadiums for the matches. How do you plan to balance your matches with your shoots?

I will balance it out as much as I can, because films and shoot dates sometimes cannot be changed. We have to prioritise it for the practicality of the production. But whenever, wherever possible, we will always work around it.

Like in January, I’m free so I’ll be attending way more matches. This time, I got involved a little late so I couldn’t influence the schedule. From next year onwards, we will have the advantage of knowing the dates in advance, so we will figure and work backwards. Also, I don’t think I always need to be there to be present. I will continue doing what I’m already doing, through social media. 

There are many who don’t take defeat lightly. How do you deal with wins and losses? 

It’s still a new feeling for me right now. We won a match, lost a match. I’m hoping we win more. Nobody likes to lose. But you have to look at the season as a whole. You can’t look at each match and start losing your cool. The season just started and everyone is still figuring out their strengths, weaknesses and what chinks they have in their armour. So, we are still growing. It’s not like other leagues where you know which team is the absolute favourite and which one’s really weak. Most teams here are really balanced and any team can pull of any kind of results. Obviously, I want my team to win and for the team to show in the top four to begin with, only comes from winning. 

What do you think of the team’s performance so far. They have defeated a great team like Kolkata already...

The first match, they started out looking very comfortable in the first half. In the second half, we had a 15-minute period where our defence conceded goals and the third one was an absolute scrimmage you can’t stop. They still got two back and the momentum of that and believing that the attacking unit we have, can actually do wonders. It’s too early to judge the performances and give an opinion but I guess it’s heading in the correct direction. The coach’s philosophy and working style will need at least five-six games to show the difference so we’re taking one game at a time right now. 

We don’t really have an Indian football team in the international arena. With celebrities joining the bandwagon, do you think it will give the game the much-needed push?

More than the celebrities, just the league that has come and will be telecast on such a huge platform, will get more eyeballs and attention. And above all this, it will get the youth involved. There’s an authenticity to the fact that we potentially have this opportunity in the next 10 years to put people, faces, names out there that belong from India. It’s a process. Aisa nahi hai ki just because the league has come, it will happen. One of the biggest reasons why I became a co-owner was that they have an academy that’s coaching young boys and girls in the 14-15 age bracket to pursue football as a profession. Football has never been looked as a professional choice because the money and infrastructure weren’t there. 

Now, the infrastructure is there and the money is coming from the telecast rights. I believe and I want to be positive about it that the future is in our hands. In a country of over a billion people, we need to have that belief that we will get that starting point to cross over and create a name for our self. That always follows through with many more kids believing in it. You need a poster boy, always! They had Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri who have done tremendously well. But now, we need to push beyond and with this foundation, the argument that India is, I feel hoga but time lagega. Maybe we need to wait for another 10 years!