Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has revealed the deeply personal reason behind his decision to choose Jaipur as the home city for his Pro Kabaddi League team, the Jaipur Pink Panthers. In a recent interview, the actor spoke about his long-standing connection with sports and explained that Jaipur was not simply a business or sporting choice for him.
Abhishek said that his decision was influenced by his personal memories of the city, including his relationship with his wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He revealed that he and Aishwarya started dating in Jaipur, giving the city an emotional significance that went beyond his involvement in kabaddi.
The actor has previously spoken about the importance of having a personal connection with the projects he takes up. His comments about Jaipur Pink Panthers offer another insight into why he became closely involved with the franchise after the Pro Kabaddi League was launched.
Abhishek also credited his father, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, for developing his passion for sports from an early age. He has described Amitabh as a major sports enthusiast and said that his interest in sports was influenced by his father.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers became one of Abhishek’s major sporting ventures when the Pro Kabaddi League began in 2014. At the time, kabaddi did not have the same commercial profile as cricket, but Abhishek chose to invest in the sport because of his genuine interest in building sporting institutions.
His connection with the team has continued over the years. The Jaipur Pink Panthers won the inaugural Pro Kabaddi League title in 2014, giving the franchise an impressive start to its journey. Abhishek was closely associated with the team and celebrated its success with the players.
The Bachchan family’s connection with the Jaipur Pink Panthers has also become visible during matches. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan and their daughter Aaradhya have previously attended games to support Abhishek and the team. In January 2024, the three were seen enthusiastically cheering for the Jaipur Pink Panthers during a Pro Kabaddi League match.
For Abhishek, the team’s name itself also carries a connection to his childhood and his relationship with Amitabh Bachchan. He has previously recalled that his father used to call him “Tiger” when he was young. Abhishek later began calling his father “Panther” in response, a childhood memory that became part of the personal story behind the franchise.
The actor’s latest comments therefore bring together several important aspects of his life: his passion for sports, his relationship with his father, his connection with Aishwarya and his journey as a sports-team owner.
Abhishek has also made it clear that he does not view his involvement in sport simply as a financial investment. In discussions about his sporting ventures, he has emphasised the importance of building teams and sporting institutions rather than treating them only as businesses.
His association with the Jaipur Pink Panthers has consequently developed into something larger than celebrity ownership. Over the years, he has remained involved with the franchise and has regularly been seen supporting the team during important matches.
The team has also achieved further success since its inaugural season. The Jaipur Pink Panthers won the Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 title in 2022, adding another championship to the franchise’s record. Aishwarya publicly celebrated that achievement and praised the players for their performance during the season.
The Bachchan family’s visible support has also helped create a strong connection between the franchise and its celebrity owner. Their appearances at matches have often attracted attention, particularly when Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya and Aaradhya have joined Abhishek to cheer for the team.
For Abhishek, however, the connection with Jaipur appears to be particularly personal. His revelation that he and Aishwarya began dating in the city adds another layer to his decision to associate his sporting franchise with Jaipur.
The disclosure also provides a glimpse into the actor’s personal memories without changing the larger story of his sporting journey. Jaipur is simultaneously the home of his kabaddi franchise and a city connected to an important chapter in his relationship with Aishwarya.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers have now become an established name in Indian kabaddi, and Abhishek’s continued involvement reflects his long-term interest in the sport. His journey also demonstrates how celebrities have increasingly become involved in professional sports beyond cricket and entertainment.
Abhishek’s sporting interests extend beyond kabaddi as well. He has been associated with other sporting ventures, including football, while more recently expanding his involvement into European cricket. His approach, according to his own comments, has been driven by a desire to contribute to sports and build institutions rather than simply make a commercial investment.
The latest revelation about Jaipur consequently adds a personal dimension to a sporting story that began more than a decade ago. What started as an investment in a new professional kabaddi league has become an enduring association for Abhishek Bachchan.
With his father inspiring his love for sports and Jaipur carrying memories associated with his relationship with Aishwarya, the city holds multiple layers of significance for the actor. His decision to build the Jaipur Pink Panthers around that connection has helped make the franchise an important part of his sporting identity.
Abhishek’s comments also underline why personal associations can influence decisions that might otherwise appear purely professional. For him, choosing Jaipur was connected not only with the opportunity to participate in India’s emerging kabaddi league but also with memories and relationships that remain important to his life.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers continue to represent that combination of sport and personal identity. For Abhishek Bachchan, the franchise is therefore more than a team name—it is linked to his passion for sport, his childhood memories with Amitabh Bachchan and his personal connection with Aishwarya and Jaipur.
