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How Preity Zinta Made McCullum Dance To SRK's Song? Veteran Journalist Reveals

Soumyajit Dutta

Vimal Kumar, Preity Zinta and Brendon McCullum [Source: @Rnawaz31888/X, CREX/YouTube.com]Vimal Kumar, Preity Zinta and Brendon McCullum [Source: @Rnawaz31888/X, CREX/YouTube.com]

In IPL’s early years, few stories capture the off-field camaraderie and star power quite like the night Preity Zinta made Brendon McCullum dance to a Shah Rukh Khan song. 

The anecdote, recently revealed by veteran cricket journalist Vimal Kumar on CREX’s IPL Unfiltered show, offers a delightful glimpse into the lighter side of cricket’s biggest league—a world where Bollywood and cricket blend seamlessly.

When Preity Zinta Made Brendon McCullum Groove!

The story dates back to 2008-09, a turbulent year for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), when Sourav Ganguly was leading the side through a season riddled with controversy and chaos. The team, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, had just weathered a storm of off-field drama and a public coach-captain rift that saw Sourav Ganguly replaced by McCullum as captain.

Despite the turmoil, McCullum’s on-field heroics—like his blistering 81 against Chennai Super Kings—remained a highlight. But it was off the field, at one of Shah Rukh Khan’s legendary parties, that McCullum found himself in an unexpected spotlight. 

SRK's Polite Threat To Vimal!

According to Vimal Kumar, after an interview with SRK, he and other guests were “lovingly threatened” by the superstar to attend his party, where the guest list included cricketing icons like Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan. Vimal recalls, “Nobody expected that cricket journalists would be there at the party. SRK said, ‘don’t worry, they are my guests and not here as reporters.”

How McCullum Broke Loose!

The real show, however, began when Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab and Bollywood star herself, decided to give McCullum a crash course in Bollywood dancing. The song of choice? The chartbuster from SRK’s film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which had just released.

“Brendon McCullum was dancing to the song, and Preity Zinta was teaching him the steps. It was hilarious—I even captured it on my phone, but they asked me not to post it anywhere,” Vimal recounted. 

As for the party, it became a cherished memory for all those present including Vimal Kumar who didn't forget to mention the hospitality of the Badshah of Bollywood! 

"Shah rukh khan jis tarike se bar bar ate the... us 1.5 ghante mei unhone actually wo badshah wali feeling di...He took the pain of hosting us and keeping a check on us after every 15 minutes," recalled Vimal.

The 2009 edition saw KKR finish at the bottom of the table, plagued by internal strife and media scrutiny. Nevertheless, McCullum’s leadership and his status as the man who gave IPL its most explosive opening act ensured his legacy was never in doubt.