Sixteen years ago, Paa received National Film Award recognition, marking a significant milestone in Abhishek Bachchan’s journey as a producer. While audiences knew him as an actor, the film showcased another side of his creative vision, backing a story that was anything but conventional.

Starring Amitabh Bachchan in a transformative performance as Auro, a 12 year old boy living with progeria, *Paa* went on to win the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film at the 57th National Film Awards. Amitabh Bachchan won Best Actor, while Arundhati Nag received Best Supporting Actress and Christien Tinsley and Dominie Till won Best Make-up Artist. The awards recognised the film’s distinctive storytelling and its ability to approach a challenging subject with warmth, humour and humanity.

Produced by AB Corp Ltd., *Paa* marked a significant milestone for Abhishek as a producer, demonstrating his willingness to champion unconventional narratives and contribute to cinema beyond his work in front of the camera. The film’s National Award recognition added another dimension to his creative journey, reflecting an instinct for backing stories that stood apart from the familiar.

Sixteen years on, Paa remains one of the milestones in Abhishek Bachchan’s multifaceted journey, which today extends well beyond cinema. An entrepreneur, investor and sports franchise owner, Abhishek has built a parallel portfolio across sporting disciplines, from Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League and Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League to Majhi Mumbai in the Indian Street Premier League. As Co-Founder of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC sanctioned league that completed its inaugural season in 2026, he has taken that vision onto the international stage, helping build a professional cricket platform across Europe. His journey reflects a larger ambition: not simply to invest in sport, but to build sporting properties, nurture talent and create platforms with long term commercial and cultural impact