An Actor and a Sportsman

While most actors give up sports when they are in their late 30s, Arvind Krishna is going from strength to strength. The 'Shukra' actor, who is currently shooting for his multilingual superhero film A Masterpiece, participated in the prestigious International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 Sagamihara Quest hosted by 3BL Japan, during a shooting schedule break last week.

“3Bl is like IPL, the short form of Basketball with only three players and one substitute. It was a great opportunity for me to be part of such a prestigious championship. I wanted to make full use of it and I am glad I did that,” says Arvind.

He is not only the sole actor, but also the only Indian to have participated in the league. He captained the Hyderabad 3BL team which included players from other countries — Balla Kouyate, Takaharu Tsugawa and Mayori. His team is playing in the qualifiers and more games are scheduled for next year.

“I have been practising for the tourney for the last four months. I have been working out extensively and practising my game techniques. It’s certainly a great honour to be part of this team. It’s a nice mix of youngsters and working with them made me better understand the game at a global level, as well as different cultures and game strategies,” says the actor.

Having worked non-stop for his upcoming projects, Arvind describes taking part in 3BL as a ‘welcome break’ from his film schedules.

An avid sportsman and a professional basketball player, Arvind played for India in basketball’s usual five-a-side format. He also played for the team Hyderabad Ballers in the 3x3 basketball league (3BL) in India.

“Balancing films and sports is challenging,” he admits but adds, “The secret to my professional success is the discipline that stems from my ardent interest in sports.” Even though the basketball journey required many sacrifices and challenges, Arvind found it to be an enthralling experience.

“I often said that dedication and discipline are essential to master any art form, and sports has taught me that discipline is the key to success in life. My sports background shaped my personality and it had a huge influence on my film career too. Since both films and sport are professions that involve team effort, they complement each other for me. I believe that I can bring my best output as an actor only when I am in the right shape,” he shares.

He adds, “Although films are my passion, nothing gives you a bigger high than representing your country.”

Today, filmmakers want actors to be adept at various things, from adventure sports to martial arts, to help them get into character. “For my last film, I took quick lessons in action sequences and performed them,” says the actor whose career trajectory reflects his love for experimentation across genres and themes.
He reiterates his interest in being part of films with novel ideas.

“I prefer to do films that excite me as an artiste. Even after working for several years in this industry new ideas and challenges keep me afloat,” the actor asserts.