14 Times Bollywood Actresses Were Bowled Over By Cricketers

The two things that bring Indians together is cricket and movies. And when the two come together it is a recipe for a blockbuster, like the IPL. With cricketers and Bollywood celebrities like Harbhajan Singh, Geeta Basra and Yuvraj Singh, Hazel Keech taking their relationships to the next level, the link-ups between performers from the sporting world and tinsel town aren't a new phenomenon. Here are 14 instances when Bollywood actresses were smitten by the cricket bug, even if it meant being in relationships with cricket stars from abroad:

1. Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech

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The most recent story of these two people making public, their intention to marry, by posting engagement ring selfies and holidaying pics. Yuvraj, once the heart-throb of the Indian cricket team, had previously being linked with other actresses from the film industry, but that didn't materialise for good. It was reported earlier this year that Yuvraj and Bodyguard actress Hazel Keech are not just a couple but are going strong together. Media reports of an upcoming roka ceremony, plus the fact that Hazel accompanied Yuvraj to Harbhajan and Geeta's gala wedding reception, added fuel to the fire. Just days later, Yuvraj confirmed the relationship by posting this...

The two are reportedly set to tie the knot in February.

2. Sharmila Tagore and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi

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In perhaps, the most royal Indian cricket and Hindi cinema connection, Sharmila Tagore, one of the most fascinating actresses in Bollywood in the 1970s, first met Nawab Pataudi, the then captain of the Indian team in a common friend's party in 1965. After a classic case of love at first sight, the two got married, albeit going through some family oppositions, and enjoyed a long relationship until Pataudi passed away in 2011.

3. Anju Mahendru and Sir Garfield Sobers

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Small-time actress Anju Mahendru, who is an avid cricket fan with a lot of appearances in the VIP enclosures during India's cricket matches, both home and away in the 1980's and 90's, fell in love with West Indian legend Sir Garfield Sobers when the Caribbean side toured India in 1966-67. They had got engaged for a small period of time and then called off their engagement.

4. Neena Gupta and Vivian Richards

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The most dominant West Indian batsman of the 1970's and 80's, Sir Vivian Richards was already married when he started dating Indian award-winning actress Neena Gupta. The two had a child out of wedlock, named Masaba, who stays with Neena and is a noted fashion designer in the country.

5. Zeenat Aman and Imran Khan

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Pakistan's greatest cricketing icon and star all-rounder Imran Khan dated the biggest bombshell of Bollywood, Zeenat Aman briefly. The two were seen together on many occasions, but then they soon had to part ways.

6. Reena Roy and Mohsin Khan

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In another Indian, Pakistani couple hitched story, Mohsin Khan, one of the stylish Pakistani batsman of the 1980s married Reena Roy in 1983. Mohsin was one of the few cricketers who tried their hand at acting and succeeded somewhat. He quit cricket to prolong his acting career and did around a dozen of Hindi films and even won awards. Their marriage though didn't last long and the two divorced.

7. Amrita Singh and Ravi Shastri

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Winning the Audi car in 1985 World Series Cricket had made Ravi Shastri an overnight star in India. Amrita Singh, on the other hand, was gaining ground as an actress. The two are said to have been involved in a serious affair, but that didn't last long. Amrita, in 1991, married Tiger Pataudi's son, Saif Ali Khan, who was 12 years her junior.

8. Sangeeta Bijlani and Mohd Azharuddin

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Azhar was at the peak of his career and already married with two kids when he met Sangeeta. He separated from his wife and married Sangeeta and the two went strongly for 14 years, before being divorced in 2010.

9. Sushmita Sen and Wasim Akram

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Whenever asked, Sushmita Sen and Wasim Akram said they are friends, but they apparently dated for about 5 months before they broke up. Akram is now married to Australian Shaniera Akram after his wife Huma lost her battle with cancer.

10. Kim Sharma and Yuvraj Singh

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These two were perhaps, the most talked about cricket and Bollywood couple in the mid-2000s. Yuvraj's family though didn't like his closeness with her and they had to part ways to continue their careers. Yuvraj's career skyrocketed when he went on to be a national hero with stellar performances in 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup, but Kim Sharma's Bollywood hopes nosedived.

11. Isha Sharvani and Zaheer Khan

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Theirs have been a topsy-turvy relationship for over 8 years reportedly. Often seen together in parties and functions, the two were close to announcing their marriage too but they had to break up. Rumour has it that both Isha and Zaheer continue to be good friends.

12. Yuvraj Singh, Deepika Padukone and MS Dhoni

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It is said that Dhoni had a huge crush on the then Bollywood newbie Deepika Padukone. However, that could just remain a crush. Yuvraj, though, was linked very strongly to Deepika after his breakup with Kim Sharma.

13. Geeta Basra and Harbhajan Singh

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Harbhajan Singh's form on the field could have blown hot and cold in the last 3-4 years, but his personal life was sorted, thanks to Geeta Basra, his long-time girlfriend and a Bollywood starlet. The two got married in Punjab on October 29 and their reception in Delhi a couple of days later was definitely the big fat celebration that Punjabis are known for.

14. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma

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The fact that Anushka Sharma is the first one to be trolled after any instance of Virat Kohli's failure with the bat says that these two are the most talked about Bollywood-Cricket celebrity couple currently. They are not shy from making their relationship public. Time and again we've seen Kohli slamming those critics who blame his off-the-field love with Anushka for poor performances on the ground. The two are seen regularly together at sporting meets and other social gatherings.