The punjabi ‘punch’nama

Already making waves in the pro wrestling world, Amanpreet Singh, also known as Mahabali Shera is one of the top stars of the TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Impact Wrestling. Standing 6’2”, the burly 25-year-old hailing from Ferozepur, a district of Punjab, is all excited for the live TNA Wrestling event which will make its debut at Mumbai in December. “It’s actually a dream come true for me and I’m all excited that I’ll be performing in front of my home crowd,” says Shera.

In 2014, Shera was personally selected by wrestling legend Kurt Angle during a talent hunt in Punjab. “The day when I was selected, I was crying. (Dixie) Carter told me, ‘You’ll be the first Indian to join TNA wrestling.’ It was a memorable moment when I realised that my dream of achieving something was coming true,” he explained.

During the talent hunt, Shera faced a stiff challenge from the shortlisted aspiring wrestlers. “They were looking for a lot of qualities in a wrestler. Those passionate were shortlisted. When I auditioned in 2012, there were 200 to 300 aspirants and out of which 15 were shortlisted in Delhi and they also added an extra three. If I can recollect, there were many who wanted to be TV artists, get into movies but I had only one aim to be a wrestler.”

Following intense training and scrutiny, Shera went on to emerge victorious. “After I was adjudged champion, I had nothing to do for the next two years. It was a tough time for me, the transition from being a champion to a normal person. I was depressed, fell sick and was bedridden,” asserted the soft-spoken Shera, who trains for more than eight hours a day.

During the tough period, friends and family supported the wrestling star who notes,“We were not very financially well off; I had to do everything and I had a lot of responsibility. I’m the eldest and I have a brother and sister.”

Soon, Shera moved to Chandigarh seeking work and chase his dream. “I studied till 12th and wanted to work as well. My granny wanted me to drive trucks or go to Dubai or do something. Again, my father fell sick and I gave up studies. I used to wake up at 4 am to workout and then work a straight eight hours as a carpenter.”

His dedication to bodybuilding and wrestling has inspired youngsters in his village and has seen a drastic increase in numbers at the local gym in Ferozepur. He says, “I’m happy that a young boy from a small town has achieved something in life and now there are youngsters from my hometown have taken up bodybuilding and wrestling. I’m happy to be an inspiration,” he says.

Meanwhile, Shera enjoys spending time at home rather than going out. “I don’t like crowded places. I’m a keen follower of Hanuman and pray a lot. If not for my prayers and the body, I wouldn’t have been anywhere right now. I always carry a picture of Hanuman and take it everywhere I go,” added Shera, who loves watching Salman Khan and Aamir Khan movies.