With the Commonwealth Games round the corner, Vijender found time to act in a movie
Vijender Singh. (Photo: PTI/File)
Hyderabad: For someone hailing from a small town of Kaluwas (5 kms from Bhiwani) Vijender Singh, has come a long way from home and is continuing to bring laurels to this country. Vijender is six feet tall, has an athletic body to die for and is now the poster boy of India’s biggest film industry, Bollywood.
When he started his career little did he know that he would someday win medals for the country and at the same time find time to act in movies. “I always wanted to serve the country. My first dream was to join the Army. But then boxing happened and movies was a pure luck-by-chance kind of thing,” the 75-kg boxer told this newspaper.
With the Commonwealth Games round the corner, Vijender found time to act in a movie, Fugly. The boxer says it’s all about discipline. “Before I decided to act I had a lot of questions in my mind about my career, training and as to how I will manage two careers simultaneously, among many other things. But deep down inside I knew if I wanted to, I could. And am glad I took the risk and it paid off,” Vijender added.
Little did Vijender know that his decision to act in the movies will be a blessing in disguise. “When the shooting for Fugly started I weighed a little over 86 kgs. Then there was a 20-day shoot in Ladakh, and I grabbed the opportunity to train hard in the high altitude region. I made sure I trained at least for two hours a day. And in the process I shed 10 kilos in 20 days,” the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient said.
“Once I lost weight it was all about strength building and getting my basics right. I always had my coach and a sparring partner travelling along with me. If I could finish a movie and yet manage to get silver at the Games I see no harm in continuing to do it,” he added.
With the Asian Games round the corner will Vijender continue to box in the 75 kg category? “Before the Glasgow Games I wanted to fight in a different category. But then I dropped the idea. With the Asian Games so close I will fight in the same category and will try to do my best,” the Asian Games 75kg defending champion said.
Vijender is often compared to Rocky Balboa for his ability to put across the agile cross, hooks and uppercuts in the ring. Did he get into the movie to replicate his reel inspiration? “No not really (laughs). I am honoured to be compared to my Idol, Sylvester Stallone and I would love to meet him. But on a serious note I would not do anything to impersonate anybody’s style. I have a style of my own and will follow it,” the 28-year-old boxer said.
( Source : dc )
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