“I’ve Salman and Akshay dancing with me, what more could I want?” – Vijender Singh

By Subhash K. Jha -

May 20, 2014 - 11:01 AM IST

From boxing to Bollywood, Vijender Singh discusses his journey with Subhash K Jha

Would your boxing fans be happy with your move into movies?
Why not? I am trying something new. It's not as if I am moving into something dubious or wrong. I am doing a film.

“I’ve Salman and Akshay dancing with me, what more could I want?” – Vijender Singh

That's a big thing. And my boxing fans would be happy to see me on screen. If Bollywood was not a desirable place

would there be so many hopefuls every year? I am going to try my best.

When your sports fans meet you what do they say?
They say they've seen my trailer and they like what they've seen. They're happy to see me try something new. They

have that trust in me. They know I won't let them down. Boxing toh hai hi. It would remain my first love.

In fact I had a boxing tournament in Patiala.

Would you be giving equal attention to both your careers now?
In fact I am also a police officer. So it's three careers now. Since not too many people know I am part of the

police force, nobody asked why I am doing something other than boxing. But now when I've taken up acting everyone

wants to know why I am doing something other than boxing. There is a lot of pressure on me to justify why I've

gone into acting.

How was the experience of working in your first film?
It was an incredible experience. My director Kabir Sir (Sadanand) too is a sportsperson. He loves cricket. We had

a great time shooting. I followed his instructions very carefully, so it was easy enough for me.

How difficult was it for you to get a hang of the acting?
I've to admit it was tough for me to act initially. But once I got a hang of it, it was fine. Now I know how to

respond to the camera, where to turn and where to let the light fall on my face. We had a technical team on the

sets of Fugly. They were very helpful. I used to be the first to reach the sets, and I listened to the

instructions very carefully. Somewhere my efforts are bound to show up on screen.

You've won the highest awards for boxing. What do you hope to achieve as an actor?
Though boxing is my first and primary career I am going to give acting my best shot. I am not into this just to

while away my time. I hope I'll get as much recognition for acting as I've done for boxing. And like I said my

passion for boxing remains the same. I am already preparing for the Asian Games. I am mainly stationed in Delhi.

But I keep traveling to Mumbai. I feel very comfortable in Mumbai also.

Do you feel welcome in the film industry?
Jee bilkul. In my very first film I've Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar dancing with me. What more could I

want? My debut film Fugly will entertain you.

You were married three years ago. How is married life?
I am very happily married. My wife Archana supports me in everything I do. Both of us believe jo bhi karo dil se

karo. If you're hard working you'll get success in life. If I succeed as an actor I'd be very happy.

Do you feel like an actor?
When I got my work-permit as an actor I felt very proud. So far my resume showed my profession as only a boxer.

When I got a card declaring, 'Vijender Singh Cine-artiste' I felt very happy. I was like. 'Wow, this is a new

beginning for me.' I feel happy that I am making a new start even when I'm doing well as a boxer.

So which one turns you on more, the acting or the boxing?
Bhaiyya, achche actors toh bahot mil jayenge. Lekin achche boxers milna utna asaan nahin. But at the moment I am

waiting for the release of Fugly. There is a dialogue in the film, 'Movie bade pyar se banti hai araam se

baithen pyar se dekhen.' I hope my film gets that kind of a treatment.