Virat Kohli and Bunty Sajdeh: End of a Long-Standing Managerial Partnership. The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 marks the conclusion of a long-standing partnership in Indian cricket. Virat Kohli and his business associate Bunty Sajdeh, founder of Cornerstone, have decided to go their separate ways. Though the specific reason for the split is currently unknown, reliable sources indicate that Kohli is poised to establish his own company and is presently in the process of registering it.
In 2020, Dharma Productions, owned by Karan Johar, entered the talent management arena through a collaboration with Cornerstone, creating Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA). It’s important to note that Virat Kohli’s association with Cornerstone remained distinct and unaffected by this joint venture; the newly established DCA had no involvement in Kohli’s existing partnership with Cornerstone.
For an extended period, Virat Kohli was under the management of Cornerstone, led by Bunty Sajdeh. Significantly, Seema Khan, previously married to Sohail Khan, is the sister of Bunty Sajdeh, and Ritika Sajdeh, Kohli’s cousin, is married to Rohit Sharma. Whether venturing into his clothing line or forging other partnerships, Kohli has consistently displayed a robust entrepreneurial spirit. It’s noteworthy that Kohli has also chosen to unfollow Bunty Sajdeh on social media.
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Beyond being the manager and founder of the company responsible for handling Kohli’s commercial interests, brand value, and off-field presence, Bunty Sajdeh was more than that – he served as Virat’s confidant, often referred to as his 2 am friend, accompanying him to significant cricket events. Their partnership resulted in securing lucrative deals with major companies, such as the notable Rs 100-crore agreement with Puma.
Virat Kohli and Teammates Part Ways with Bunty Sajdeh
Yet, there were murmurs suggesting that Cornerstone might have been giving precedence to Virat Kohli’s interests over those of other athletes associated with them. The former captain of the Indian cricket team has been part of Cornerstone for over a decade, forming a tight-knit connection with Bunty during this time.
However, as a consequence, Cornerstone had to part ways with individuals like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill, and others. These athletes believed that the company primarily revolved around Virat Kohli and didn’t sufficiently address the interests of the other talent.
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Athletes Under the Management of Bunty Sajdeh
Although the company still boasts prominent athletes such as PV Sindhu, Sania Mirza, Umesh Yadav, and India U19 captain Yash Dhull, the current roster falls significantly short of its previous magnitude. The departures of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shubman Gill have reshaped Cornerstone’s portfolio. Now, in collaboration with Dharma, it leans heavily towards Bollywood, featuring names like Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, and others.
Many compared Bunty Sajdeh to the Jerry Maguire of the industry. While MS Dhoni has his firm, Rhiti Group, with additional investors, Virat Kohli is now in the process of establishing his own company. Amidst ongoing speculation about the relationship between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the 2023 World Cup has put an end to those rumours.
