New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and vice-president of the BCCI, Rajeev Shukhla, recently narrated an anecdote about late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar coming to the BCCI's rescue after the board was unable to pay members of the World Cup winning team of 1983.
Shukla spoke with YouTuber Samdish Bhatia on his channel for the show 'Unfiltered' where he spoke about the evolution of Indian cricket by narrating an incident involving late singer Lata Mangeshkar.
"Mr Dalmia and Mr Bindra’s team changed the BCCI by selling the broadcast rights, otherwise matches would by default be telecast on Doordarshan. That’s when the income started flowing in. After the 1983 World Cup, the board didn’t have money to award the winning team members. Lata Mangeshkar had to do a concert, and the players were paid with the money that concert brought in. She did it for nothing; she was offered lifetime passes to India’s matches,” adding ,"But she never availed them.”
As per a Hindustan Times report, the late singer had spoken about the fundraiser in a radio interview wher she had said, "I said I will definitely do it. I reached Delhi on 17th August and I did a special show. Suresh Wadekar and Nitin Mukesh, son of Mukesh Bhaiya also supported in this show. Rajiv Gandhi was also present in that show.”
Meanwhile, Rajeev Shukhla also spoke about his friendship with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. He also recalled during his conversation with Samdish Bhatia that SRK had adviced him to give acting a shot.
“A few directors have offered me roles, but I refused to do them. It’s not about liking or disliking the field of acting, but sometimes you’re forced to fit into certain roles, and there’s no fun in doing them. Recently, another filmmaker offered me the role of a politician in their film, and I asked Shah Rukh about it. He said, ‘Rajeev ji, that isn’t your job’. He’s the biggest star we have, so of course I’d ask him. If he’s ever offered to become an MP, he’d ask me.” He recalled during the interaction.