Lalit Modi was a game changer, he ran the IPL single-handedly: Preity G Zinta

Preity G Zinta credited Lalit Modi for the creating a brand like the IPL and felt whatever people might think of him today, he handled everything extremely well and would always solve any issues that cropped up.

"I met Lalit Modi at the Bravery Awards. I was the brand ambassador and his family was involved with that. We sat down for coffee later, and I told him that I want to have a sports school. I am going to do that because I have been sporty all my life, I have played all sports and it was my and my dad's dream for India to win more Olympic medals and to have more facilities. I didn't realise that you need to have Rs 1000 crore to have a sports school!

"When the IPL was being bid for, he called me and asked, 'Why don't you do this?' Everyone told me don't do this, it's crazy, this will never happen but somehow he convinced me. I am a visual person and for me, I just looked forward and thought, 'Can I see this happen? Yes, I can.'

"I also believed that it would be my first step in sports and I could do what I wanted to do. So that's how.

"Lalit in that way was a game changer. He ran the IPL single-handedly. I would call him at 3 in the night saying 'this is not happening' and at five past 3, he will make it happen. So he was that one person who made everything happen and whatever people might say about him today, I really appreciate him and thank him for creating the IPL and being so spot on. The growth in the IPL with his vision was so great then, it was huge," Zinta said.