Bollywood superstar Arjun Kapoor throws support behind Indian Commonwealth Games team
BOLLYWOOD superstar Arjun Kapoor has done his bit for the Indian Commonwealth Games team, and has hinted a new groundswell of support is building for sport – other than cricket – in the country.
Confidential
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BOLLYWOOD superstar Arjun Kapoor has done his bit for the Indian Commonwealth Games team.
Flying in to the Gold Coast from Mumbai for a whirlwind two-day visit, the celebrated actor was in the stands at the gymnastics on Saturday.
As of Sunday afternoon, India is sitting at number four on the overall medal tally behind Australia, England and Canada – with a total of six medals, four of those gold.
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“It feels really nice to be a film star and be able to contribute in your own way by representing your country,” Kapoor told Games Confidential at the Longines Records Club.
“Sometimes you can’t be on the field but you can do it in your own way by bringing attention to the country for the right reasons and be a true cheerleader for good sport.”
Kapoor, 32, is the son of Boney and Mona Shourie Kapoor and nephew of Bollywood and Hollywood star Anil Kapoor, famous for his parts in films like Slumdog Millionaire and Mission Impossible.
“I am just very proud to see Indians going beyond cricket, that is always a good thing,” said Kapoor, flown in by luxury watch maker and official games timekeeper Longines.
“As somebody growing up in India watching a lot of sport, where cricket has always been the main prerogative and now to see football, gymnastics, table tennis, hockey, all sorts of sports kicking in and making a difference to young children and their ideologies is a great thing and athletes doing well at the Commonwealth Games induces that thought process back home.”
Kapoor, famous for his work as an actor but also for hosting reality series Fear Factor, has nearly 7 million Instagram followers and the same on Facebook.
He’s keen to work in Hollywood one day but isn’t in a rush as “right now I am trying to consolidate in Bollywood but never say never”.
He is also a big fan of Australian actors, from Hugh Jackman to Chris Hemsworth.
“As a kid I had the poster of Gladiator on my wall,” he said. “Russell Crowe is somebody who has been an inspiration as an actor. Today, when you see so many Australian actors doing well, him and Mel Gibson were the early starters.”
Originally published as Bollywood superstar Arjun Kapoor throws support behind Indian Commonwealth Games team
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