Dubai boy Navdip Singh swapped his tennis racquet for a shot at Bollywood films. And he seems to have scored. His first film Khwaabb, a sports drama about runners, will open in Indian theatres on May 9.
“All my life, I knew I wanted to be an actor. While tennis was my passion, my heart was always set on Bollywood,” said Singh in an interview with tabloid!.
Singh, who grew up in Al Mankhool neighbourhood in Bur Dubai, plays a 400m sprint athlete in the film. The 28-year-old aspiring actor studied in Dubai Modern High (now GEMS Modern Academy) and Cambridge International School, but his focus was always trained on becoming a professional tennis player.
“At 14, I was playing tennis at a professional level at the Junior International Tennis Federation [ITF] circuit and had opportunities to train and tour the world. I got sponsorship deals. It was encouraging and happening rapidly. But six years ago, I moved to Mumbai to focus on building an acting career,” said Singh.
His gamble seems to have paid off. At the music launch of Khwaabb, produced by Bullseye Productions, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was the guest of honour. His star power brought some boost to the film and enhanced its credibility.
Role model
“It was a dream come true to stand next to one of my role models. He told my director Ali [Ziad Ali Khan] that he has done a good job and that I run very fast,” said Singh. Training for the role was no easy task, claims the actor.
“Nothing prepares you for sprint training. It’s a combination of advanced weight training, cardio and speed. I was being trained by sprint champions who taught me strategies to pull off that role. There was no body double involved,” said Singh, adding that the discipline that he derived from playing tennis helped.
“I wasn’t intimidated when I was told about the training that will go into this role because I was used to the kind of rigours and discipline required from sports,” said Singh.
The Dubai connection to Khwaabb doesn’t end with its lead actor. The director also filmed a few scenes of Khwaabb in the UAE.
Watch this space for more.