Actress Geeta Basra has lauded the Mumbai Police for their effective management of Lionel Messi’s recent event, which contrasted sharply with the reported chaos during his appearance in Kolkata.
Smooth Experience for Fans
The “Train” actress expressed her appreciation for the police force, highlighting their role in ensuring a seamless experience for both fans and attendees. Geeta took to her Instagram to share a few photos and videos of herself alongside Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, her husband Harbhajan Singh, and their children. In one of the clips, she captured a moment posing with Messi for the paparazzi, along with solo images featuring the football star.
In her post, Geeta Basra wrote, “G.O.A.T @leomessi and standing with our G.O.A.T @harbhajan3 .. great meeting @luissuarez9 and @rodridepaul too.. Thank you @satadrutravel and #CCI Mumbai for making this possible. Well done @mumbaipolice for such a smooth event #harbhajansingh #messi.”
Kolkata Incident
In stark contrast, chaos emerged during Messi’s Kolkata event, where frustrated fans at the Salt Lake Stadium destroyed seats and threw objects onto the pitch after his appearance. Recent reports indicate that Satadru Dutta, the main organizer and promoter of Messi’s G.O.A.T. Tour of India, has been denied bail and is currently held in 14-day police custody due to the violence.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her distress over the incidents, stating on her X handle, “The [enquiry] committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
Bollywood Meets Football Legend
Meanwhile, several Bollywood stars converged in Mumbai to meet football legend Lionel Messi on December 14. Kareena Kapoor attended with her children, Taimur and Jeh, at an event held at the Cricket Club of India (CCI). Later that evening, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff also greeted Messi at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Notably, Shah Rukh Khan interacted with Messi during a special meet-and-greet session with his son AbRam during the controversial Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour of India 2025.