It brought tears to my eyes: Aamir

Says Aamir Khan, one of the few to celebrate India’s World Cup victory with the team, fellow actors Soha and Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta and Suneil Shetty, also at Wankhede Stadium, gush over historic win.

After Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the six that won India the World Cup after 28 years, the cricketers weren’t the only ones crying tears of joy.

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Says actor Aamir Khan, who was seen shouting and waving the tricolour throughout the match, “It brings tears to my eyes. Congratulations Team India, we are proud of you.” A superstitious Aamir had donned the same clothes he was wearing when India won the Mohali semi-final against Pakistan. Joined by wife Kiran Rao and south star RajInikanth in the stands for the final at Wankhede Stadium, he was seen biting his nails whenever a decision review was called for.

After the celebrations in the stadium concluded, the actor headed off to the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers in Colaba, where he partied with the Indian team till five in the morning. He adds, “Am so thrilled for Sachin that he got the one thing he desired, the World Cup. Dhoni really played a captain’s knock to take us to victory. (Gautam) Gambhir was one of the architects of the win. And so was Yuvraj (Singh), especially as a fielder, where he saved 18 to 20 odd runs.”

Cameras in the stadium kept focusing on a nervous Saif Ali Khan, who like fellow actor Shahid Kapoor, was biting his nails in trepidation whenever the match got too close to call. Saif’s sister, Soha, who was accompanied by beau Kunal Khemu, says, “It was as if I was playing the match myself. I was sick with anxiety until that last six. Hope it’s a new beginning.”

She shares her sentiment with stars like Preity Zinta and Lara Dutta, who were seen dancing with joy as the Indian side hit fours and sixes. Actor Suniel Shetty, who travelled to most of the matches in the tournament, says, “Winning the WC has instilled a lot of faith in all of us that we can make things happen in every sphere of life. It was the best time of my life to see the whole country unite for the first time after 26/11. That time we were bleeding, but this time, we united for joy.”

—With inputs from Hiren Kotwani