Posted:
Salman Khan gave me tips on boxing: Vijender Singh
TNN | May 26, 2014, 06.42 PM IST
Vijender Singh
Olympic bronze medalist boxer Vijender Singh is all set to make his debut in Bollywood. He spoke to us about Akshay Kumar being his Godfather, aiming for the Oscars and wanting to become the Prime Minister of India
What do you feel about your acting debut? Bahut maza aa raha hai ji, it is fun. Acting is like a deep ocean, jitna tum andar jaoge, utna doobte jaoge. Acting gives you variety. You can be anything " a gangster, a cop or a superhero. I hope my debut film is a hit and I get more and more work in Bollywood.
Does being a boxer help in being an actor? Yes, thanks to boxing I am disciplined, hardworking and fit, which are also the pre-requisites of being an actor.
Are you also preparing for any boxing championship simultaneously? Yes, I am preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland. My game is on July 28 in Scotland.
Does your being in limelight help the game? It's the other way round. Boxing helps me more. Boxing is bigger than me. Thanks to boxing, I am famous now. It's a myth that sportspersons can't act. Sportsmen like Tyson, Rock, and Muhammad Ali have showed that they can act too. So why can't I make my space in Bollywood? I hope my achievements will lead to more parents letting their child take up any profession they want to.
Do you still rue the fact that cricket is more popular than any other sport? Yes. The popularity of the sport has increased due to IPL. We still don't have any such tournament.
What is the reaction of your fans to see you in Bollywood? They are very happy. I am active on Facebook and Twitter, and my fans there have told me that they have seen the promos and love the songs. They feel it's a new beginning for me.
Not many people know that you are also a police officer. So how are you dividing your time between policing, boxing and acting? I have a personal life also. I am dividing my time between all four aspects. My wife Archana is very understanding. I keep in touch with her on phone all the time, so it's not a problem. She knows I am busy and handles the female attention I get in a positive way. I want people to remember me as an all-rounder. I have been boxing for 15 years now, so I want to act for the next 15 years and then try for the post of Prime Minister of India.
After the awards in boxing, are you setting your eyes on film awards? Yes, I am aiming for the Oscars. Bhai logo ne kaha tha National jeet ke dikhao, hum Olympic jeet ke aa gaye. To ab film award kya, Oscar jeet kea a gaye.
Do you feel welcome in the industry? Very much yaar. When your first movie has names like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, what else do you need?
How was it shooting with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar... Salman is a great boxer and is so fit. He knows proper boxing and we spoke about punches. He trained in Cuba for two-three months during Ek Tha Tiger. In fact, he gave me tips on boxing. He told me he almost played a tournament, but dropped the idea as he got busy in shoots. As for Akshay, he is my mentor. I like the fact that he is fighting fit and is self-made. He guides me at every point and I listen to his advice. He respects the fact that Vijju is self made and has responsibilities on his head. He is like my Godfather.
Have you started feeling like a star? No no, I have seen this frenzy around me since 2008, so it doesn't affect me anymore. It hasn't changed me in any way. Main jaisa pehle tha, abhi bhi waise hi hoon.
Did you feel like Boxing anyone during the shoot?
(Looks at director Kabir Sadanand and says conspiratorially) Nahi toh! In fact, I got a few punches from kabir sir.
Tell us about your first day of shoot. On my first day, I landed in Ladakh and was sent directly to the sets where we shot a beautiful song.
Have you been to Kolkata earlier? Yes, and I hope to keep coming here. Please bulate rahein mujhe yahan. If given an opportunity, I would like to do a Bengali film too. I don't say no to anything.
Mary Kom's life is being translated on the silver screen. Would you also want a biopic to be made on your life? Not now, as picture baaki hai mere dost. I have a lot of things left to do. I wouldn't like a biopic to be made on me so soon.
All the other actors in this movie have a filmi background. Did you feel out of place? Yes, I do not have a star background. I am not a Khan or Kapoor, I am a Singh. I am self made and I am proud of it. I have struggled to reach this place. I don't care about their stardom because I have made a place for myself in this industry. I believe in hard work.
What do you feel about your acting debut? Bahut maza aa raha hai ji, it is fun. Acting is like a deep ocean, jitna tum andar jaoge, utna doobte jaoge. Acting gives you variety. You can be anything " a gangster, a cop or a superhero. I hope my debut film is a hit and I get more and more work in Bollywood.
Does being a boxer help in being an actor? Yes, thanks to boxing I am disciplined, hardworking and fit, which are also the pre-requisites of being an actor.
Are you also preparing for any boxing championship simultaneously? Yes, I am preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland. My game is on July 28 in Scotland.
Does your being in limelight help the game? It's the other way round. Boxing helps me more. Boxing is bigger than me. Thanks to boxing, I am famous now. It's a myth that sportspersons can't act. Sportsmen like Tyson, Rock, and Muhammad Ali have showed that they can act too. So why can't I make my space in Bollywood? I hope my achievements will lead to more parents letting their child take up any profession they want to.
Do you still rue the fact that cricket is more popular than any other sport? Yes. The popularity of the sport has increased due to IPL. We still don't have any such tournament.
What is the reaction of your fans to see you in Bollywood? They are very happy. I am active on Facebook and Twitter, and my fans there have told me that they have seen the promos and love the songs. They feel it's a new beginning for me.
Not many people know that you are also a police officer. So how are you dividing your time between policing, boxing and acting? I have a personal life also. I am dividing my time between all four aspects. My wife Archana is very understanding. I keep in touch with her on phone all the time, so it's not a problem. She knows I am busy and handles the female attention I get in a positive way. I want people to remember me as an all-rounder. I have been boxing for 15 years now, so I want to act for the next 15 years and then try for the post of Prime Minister of India.
After the awards in boxing, are you setting your eyes on film awards? Yes, I am aiming for the Oscars. Bhai logo ne kaha tha National jeet ke dikhao, hum Olympic jeet ke aa gaye. To ab film award kya, Oscar jeet kea a gaye.
Do you feel welcome in the industry? Very much yaar. When your first movie has names like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, what else do you need?
How was it shooting with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar... Salman is a great boxer and is so fit. He knows proper boxing and we spoke about punches. He trained in Cuba for two-three months during Ek Tha Tiger. In fact, he gave me tips on boxing. He told me he almost played a tournament, but dropped the idea as he got busy in shoots. As for Akshay, he is my mentor. I like the fact that he is fighting fit and is self-made. He guides me at every point and I listen to his advice. He respects the fact that Vijju is self made and has responsibilities on his head. He is like my Godfather.
Have you started feeling like a star? No no, I have seen this frenzy around me since 2008, so it doesn't affect me anymore. It hasn't changed me in any way. Main jaisa pehle tha, abhi bhi waise hi hoon.
Did you feel like Boxing anyone during the shoot?
(Looks at director Kabir Sadanand and says conspiratorially) Nahi toh! In fact, I got a few punches from kabir sir.
Tell us about your first day of shoot. On my first day, I landed in Ladakh and was sent directly to the sets where we shot a beautiful song.
Have you been to Kolkata earlier? Yes, and I hope to keep coming here. Please bulate rahein mujhe yahan. If given an opportunity, I would like to do a Bengali film too. I don't say no to anything.
Mary Kom's life is being translated on the silver screen. Would you also want a biopic to be made on your life? Not now, as picture baaki hai mere dost. I have a lot of things left to do. I wouldn't like a biopic to be made on me so soon.
All the other actors in this movie have a filmi background. Did you feel out of place? Yes, I do not have a star background. I am not a Khan or Kapoor, I am a Singh. I am self made and I am proud of it. I have struggled to reach this place. I don't care about their stardom because I have made a place for myself in this industry. I believe in hard work.
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