Bollywood’s Tiger Shroff to Represent India's First Esports Franchise League for Free Fire
Esports Premier League (ESPL) claims to be India’s first franchise-based esports league and it has announced that Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff will be the associated with ESPL 2021 as the brand ambassador. With a Bollywood actor as the face of the league, ESPL hopes to expand its popularity into the mainstream. ESPL 2021 will kick off its Free Fire esports events on June 16.
“I am really excited to collaborate with Esports Premier League,” said Shroff in a prepared statement. “This opens a tremendous opportunity to recognise the growing talent in esports in India. As the world’s first franchise-based model in esports, ESPL will surely help in putting India first on the global map. Esports fans and gamers are shaping the future of entertainment and sports. And I’m glad to represent this force of the future.”
This would make Shroff one of the few Bollywood actors to associate with esports. Although we’ve had celebs flex their gaming prowess in the past, this won’t be Shroff’s first foray into video games and esports. Last year he featured in a few videos and streams for Call of Duty Mobile’s India launch as well.
The son of actor Jackie Shroff and producer Ayesha Dutt, Tiger Shroff is known for his work in Bollywood movie, being counted as among the highest paid actors in India. He has also expressed interest in mixed martial arts, becoming the brand ambassador and co-owner of MMA team Bengaluru Tigers. Tiger Shroff has starred in movies like Heropanti, Student of the Year 2, War, and also provided the Hindi voiceover for Peter Parker and Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The ESPL’s Group B registrations are currently open. Matches part of the league will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar. The first season of the league will be held virtually over two and a half months, and features a prize pool of Rs. 25 lacs. The first-place team in the league will win 12 lakhs from the prize pool.
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