High-profile celebrity brand ambassadors are a big draw at every edition of the Auto Expo and the current edition is no different.
With so many carmakers choosing to bring over celebs, the list of endorsers this year is a long one, ranging from Bollywood stars to cricketing superstars. For journalists though, the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor landing up on a media day is a nightmare as it becomes a challenge to navigate through the eager fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstars.
So, it was a pleasant surprise when the ‘God of Cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar, decided to casually walk into a dinner being hosted for a small bunch of journalists by BMW India on Tuesday evening.
Dressed in a cardigan and over-dye denims, Sachin was relaxed and uncharacteristically candid as he chatted animatedly about his passion for cars and his love for supercars.
Surprising also was his admission that despite his celebrity status and the restrictions that come with it, on many of his early morning weekend drives out of Mumbai, he regularly gets out at roadside tea shops to get a quick cup of ‘cutting chai’.
Sachin has driven in many countries, but apparently his dream destination is Ladakh, which he is yet to visit, and is hoping to make a trip later this year. Quiz him about his most memorable recent drive and his eyes light up about the time he spent earlier this year driving deep into the Rann of Kutch and its unending salt flats. He recalls the surreal sunset and the blood moon rise that his entourage was witness to. Another big surprise was discovering how clued in Sachin is about what is happening in the world of supercars.
Through the evening he was casually throwing up little details and asking pointed questions about the next supercars due out from the stables of Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, among others. His favourite Bimmers are the i8, the new 7-Series and the X5M super performance SUV.
In the midst of all the discussions between petrolheads, nobody missed discussing cricket with the Masterblaster.