In an unforgettable moment for Indian sports fans, legendary footballer David Beckham was spotted witnessing the exhilarating India vs New Zealand World Cup semi-finals at Wankhede Stadium, on November 15, 2023. He is currently in India as the UNICEF Goodwill ambassador and to promote his documentary on Netflix. The football and fashion icon visited the Meta office in Mumbai yesterday, November 16, 2023, for a multifaceted discussion with the Bollywood star Sara Ali Khan.
They touched upon an array of topics, from navigating the delicate balance between work and personal life to reflections on the rise to stardom. Beckham, while addressing a room filled with content creators, spoke about his inspiring journey, unwavering passion for the sport, and various interests beyond the pitch making it truly special for everyone present. He shared personal anecdotes for emerging Indian footballers and later collaborated with a few Instagram content creators too.
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At the event, Sara empathetically broached the challenges faced by global icons in preserving a sense of personal identity amidst the glitz and pressures of fame. “If one is as big a celebrity as you are, it could get difficult to be seen as a human being. There is so much glamour, there is so much pressure that sometimes it’s difficult to see who you are and I think for your family and children, there is this beautiful personal peace.”
Graciously acknowledging Khan’s sentiments, Beckham expressed gratitude for her poignant observation. “Thank you for saying that and I don’t think it has been explained and talked about like this. It’s a perfect description. My mum was a hairdresser and she worked till she was 70 years old. She still cuts some old ladies’ hair. My father was a gas fitter and he also worked till he was 75. So they are hardworking people,” Beckham replied.
The football luminary also addressed the viral “working-class” comment made by his wife Victoria Beckham in the documentary and his jovially interrupting her, at the Meta event. Reflecting on the scene, Beckham chuckled as he recounted, “I did a documentary with Victoria where she mentioned her ‘working-class’ roots… but the amusing part was, we filmed separately and never previewed each other’s segments. So, in that moment, I thought, ‘This is my moment’ and seized it with a laugh.“
David retired from playing football ten years ago but initially wasn’t ready to have his documentary made. It took about 7-8 years for him to get ready to look back and talk about it. Beckham further shared, “Once we started talking about the documentary, we needed to find the right director, and after we found all the right pieces it took me 2.5 years to shoot the documentary. It was very hard going over my life and my career. There were very tough subjects and moments that I haven’t spoken about. But the reason I did the documentary was for my family so that they had something in one place to look at and be proud of.”
The Lucky Creators
The Creators who were invited by Meta to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event, were exhilarated to wake up and see the “David Beckham” in the flesh yesterday. An idol for some, a fashion icon for some, and a teenage crush for most, every creator was excited like a child in a candy store to meet the suave footballer. These creators were beyond delighted to meet the football star and expressed their excitement on social media. They find his journey so inspirational and garnered new-found respect for him and his family after watching his documentary.
Content creators and influencers like Awez Darbar, Nagma Mirajkar, Ankush Bahuguna, Srishti Garg, Sejal Kumar, Kareema Barry, Aashna Shroff and Armaan Malik, Zaeden, Rashmee Searat (@travelwithsearats), Neel, Saurabh Ghadge, Karan (@focusedindian), Pranit (@fitnesstalks_with_pranit), Payal Gamingg, Kaashvi, Aadil Khan, Shivani (@littleglove_aka_shivani) and more were present at the Meta event. Each one of them got the chance to meet and greet the ace sportsman.
Jannat Zubair hosted a segment with the footballer asking him about his experience in India so far, how was it watching the match and his favourite local dish.
Akshay Yadav a.k.a. Akshay Freestyle got to live his dream, showcase his freestyle football skills AND hug the legendary David Beckham. Meta truly made his day!
Larissa was blown away by his documentary, she was impressed with his discipline and passion for his sport. She documented her experience and wrote, “Honestly, for me fangirling only happens when I have utmost respect for someone. Well sure Becks is a gorgeous man 😅, but what the man has done and achieved beats everything else.“
Vishnu Kaushal, Aahana Kumra, Aisha Ahmed, and Ayush Mehra were amongst some of the many creators who got to meet and interact with the football icon. They were awe-struck by his humility, politeness and the love he has for his family.
Ayush and Samaakshi Jha are the true Real Madrid fans who were fortunate enough to get their jersey signed by the legend himself. Shray Rai Tiwari and Bhavesh Balchandani (@bhavesh_roxx) were one of the lucky few as well.
“Mehmaan Nawaazi” is in our blood. We love being hospitable by ensuring that guests who visit us are comfortable and well fed. Saransh Goila brought David his famous ‘Goila butter chicken‘ to carry back with him.
We’re sure this was one of the most surreal moments in the lives of these creators. We would die to be a fly in that Meta office yesterday! What this also showcases is the impact of the creator economy on highlighting any such event. They are now omnipresent and experiencing all kinds of highs owing to their reach and following.
