Ranbir's CA on how Rishi questioned actor's football dream

Ranbir Kapoor turned his passion for football into reality by co-owning Mumbai City FCin the year 2014. A die-hard fan of the sport, Ranbir watched his team make history—becoming the first to win both the League Winners Shield and the ISL Cup in a single season.

The club has since clinched the league shield twice.

Now, years later, Ranbir’s chartered accountant and co-owner, Bimal Parekh, has shared how it all began—with a newspaper ad, a gut feeling, and a conversation withRishi Kapoor.Spotting the Opportunity: The Auction That Sparked It AllIt all began when Bimal Parekh came across a notice about a football team auction. Knowing Ranbir Kapoor’s deep love for the sport, he sensed an opportunity and suggested that Ranbir consider buying the club.In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bimal Parekh shared that he was well aware of Ranbir Kapoor’s passion for football — so much so that the actor would fly to Barcelona just to catch a match. When Bimal came across the news of a football team being auctioned, he immediately saw potential. Drawing from his experience managing clients like Juhi Chawla and observing the booming cricket business, he felt investing in football could be the next big move.

Rishi Kapoor’s Role: The Final Word on ManagementAlthough Ranbir was enthusiastic about owning a football club, the final decision rested with his father, Rishi Kapoor. When the idea was pitched, Rishi approved in principle but raised concerns about who would manage the team. While the suggestion was to bring in professionals, Rishi believed someone from the family should be directly involved in overseeing the operations.Bimal Parekh offered to take charge of the club himself, which satisfied Rishi Kapoor. When asked about his fee, Bimal opted for a stake in the team instead of payment. Though the initial journey was slow, the club eventually gained momentum.At the time of the club’s purchase, Ranbir Kapoor expressed his pride in joining the Indian Super League and representing Mumbai. A lifelong football fan, he said the move was a way to turn his passion into something meaningful by helping promote the sport in India.A Major Stake Sale and Current Ownership

In November 2019, Mumbai City FC saw a major shift when City Football Group (CFG) — the global entity behind clubs like Manchester City and New York City FC — acquired a 65% stake in the team. Ranbir Kapoor retained an 18% ownership, while his co-owner and chartered accountant Bimal Parekh held the remaining 17%.