What’s the Score?
Bollywood actor and producer Jackky Bhagnani has publicly shared his strong endorsement of pickleball, highlighting its benefits for maintaining fitness and fitting physical activity into a demanding lifestyle. He has also demonstrated a deeper commitment to the sport by co-owning a team in the World Pickleball League.
Hit it deeper!
Jackky Bhagnani expressed his passion for pickleball on World Athletics Day, May 7. He plays the sport regularly, viewing it as an effective way to balance his professional work in film and travel with personal health. Bhagnani describes pickleball as feeling like a “contemporary, compact version of tennis” that has an “addictive energy“. He praises its accessibility, noting that it is “easy enough to be taken up by anyone” and “not an intimidating sport,” capable of fitting seamlessly into busy schedules. He emphasises the sport’s positive effects on both “mental and physical health,” listing benefits such as improved cardiovascular fitness, balance, coordination, muscle toning, calorie burning, and agility. Bhagnani encourages everyone to engage in sports for activity, stating that “athleticism is not only for athletes”. Furthermore, Jackky Bhagnani and his wife, actress Rakul Preet Singh, are now co-owners of the Hyderabad Superstars team in the 2025 World Pickleball League. Their investment in the sport is driven by a desire to “build awareness and inspiring others to embrace movement in their daily lives“.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The public support and personal involvement of a well-known Bollywood figure like Jackky Bhagnani provide significant celebrity endorsement for pickleball, especially in India and regions influenced by its culture. His emphasis on the sport’s accessibility, fitness benefits, and ability to fit into a busy lifestyle aligns with broader marketing efforts to promote pickleball as an inclusive activity for a wide demographic. Co-owning a team further elevates his commitment and platform to promote the sport on a larger stage.
