After winning Indian fans’ hearts with his first-ever live show in the country in 2021, global music sensation A P Dhillon is all set to make a return to Indian soil with his much-awaited performance in the debut edition of the largest multi-genre music festival Lollapalooza India 2023, this weekend at Mahalaxmi Race Course, Mumbai.

But it’s not just his music that is winning Indian hearts. The Brown Munde and Insane singer who recently launched his new album ‘Two Hearts Never Break The Same’, is all set to spread smiles for miles for young, underprivileged Basketball players in India in partnership with BookASmile, the charity initiative of BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination.

AP Dhillon and BookASmile have joined hands to support the construction of a Basketball court in the singer’s home state in Punjab to further sports development for the underprivileged in the state. To kickstart this joint initiative, BookASmile organised a friendly Basketball match between AP Dhillon and underprivileged children training in the sport, with its partner NGO Hi5 Youth Foundation at a BookASmile-constructed court at one of the BMC Schools in Mumbai.

AP Dhillon played the match with the two teams comprising kids under the age of 14 years currently being trained in Basketball. The children have been training in the sport for the past four years across 12 BMC school centres under the Hi5 Youth Foundation, the NGO that is being supported by BookASmile.
The Basketball court where the friendly match was played to announce this initiative, was constructed and completely supported by BookASmile, last year. BookASmile will work with the Summer High singer towards the building and establishment of a similar court in the interest of sports development for underprivileged children in the state of Punjab.

Speaking about the initiative with BookASmile, AP Dhillon said, “For me personally, Basketball has always been my favourite sport to watch and play. It was my dream to one day, become a professional basketball player. Although my life has taken a different path, I have been looking for a way to give back to the community I grew up in, to help provide resources for the next generation to chase their dreams. Today’s Basketball match with these children was extremely fulfilling and gave me a window into how, together BookASmile and I, can create development and growth opportunities for the children of Punjab. I look forward to helping build a basketball court together, in my hometown as the first step towards this mission.”

Speaking about the partnership, Farzana Cama Balpande, Head – BookASmile said, “Furthering sports development through enabling infrastructure building and establishment across states in India is a very critical pillar of the work we do at BookASmile to truly create impact for young beneficiaries. The love for AP Dhillon and his music is unparalleled in India and we are so thrilled by his decision to use his platform and love for India to come together to create impact in the lives of young minds. We will jointly work towards creating impact in the area of sports development for several young, underprivileged children who love Basketball and can use this opportunity to further growth with equal opportunities. The friendly match between AP Dhillon and the children today was a delight to watch and we are so glad that we will be working together over the longer term to create smiles for miles in India for many more young beneficiaries.”