In India, blue means cricket. It expresses the allegiance of India’s one billion fans as the national team takes center stage in Australia. Nike rallies iconic sports enthusiasts from Deepika Padukone to Fashion Designer Pranav Misra and celebrity chef Vikas Khanna,in a series of candid pictorials the progression and passion of a nation captured by Bharat Sikka.
Deepika Padukone, Actress
For me, sport isn’t just an activity – it’s a way of life. Growing up, my father taught me the value of competition and that has led me to the national badminton championships. That sense of competition is still there. Getting to the next level, rising to the challenge, achieving. That is how I #bleedblue.
Pranav Mishra, Fashion Designer and Model
I believe that sport can change and empower lives. It can do something more than it is meant to do. That is how I #bleedblue.
Vikas Khanna, Celebrity Chef
I couldn’t walk when I was a teenager because of a medical condition. My friends would make fun of me and I would sit in the kitchen and watch them play cricket. That was when my grandmother said”: “Everyone can play, but not everyone can cook.”That is how I began my culinary journey. That is how I #bleedblue.
Anirudh Ravichander, Music Director
When India won the 2011 finals, I was so inspired that I went straight home after the game to write a song about it. That song is now the main track of a popular Tamil movie. Turning inspiration from cricket into music is how I #bleedblue.
Kapil Dev, Indian Cricket Legend
Passion. You must have passion to play for your country, yourself and your families. This passion is what carried me through. When we won in 1983, the win was not just mine. It was ours. It was all of India’s. To the next generation of athletes, dream big and when passion takes you onto the national stage, that is when you #bleeedblue.
Subbalaxmi, Member of Indian Women’s Cricket team
It wasn’t easy for me to start playing sports but my family supported me. Today, I’ll support any girl who wants to become a sportswoman. Sharing that strength and support with any and every girl is how I #bleedblue.
