An up and close meet with penguins in Auckland brought memories of animated film Happy Feet to actor Sidharth Malhotra.
Mahlotra, the Tourism New Zealand brand ambassador in India, is on his second trip to the country and said the Penguin Discovery Experience at Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium was by far his closest meet with penguins.
“This was the first time for me, so I can say that New Zealand has given me so many firsts. It was very special to see these magnificent creatures. They have been very well taken care of and safety measures are very high. It’s good to see how much interest and money they spend in taking care of them, and once you are in there, it’s so much fun,” said Malhotra.
“I only associate them with Happy Feet, which is an animated character and they typically look like that,” said the actor, who seemed to be enjoying a penguin’s company as one of them came and sat right behind him.
The Ek Villain actor also underwent a Maori makeover by Taaniko and Vienna Nordstrom, creative stylists and photographery duo behind Soldiers Rd Portraits.
Based in Cambridge, New Zealand, the two stylists dress customers in Maori regalia for a memorable native-inspired vintage portrait.
“I find Maori culture fascinating and I find the people extremely passionate in whatever they do. Their cultures are very ancient. Today I tried some Maori face paints, and it was amazing,” said the actor, who had tried a temporary traditional Maori tattoo on his visit to the country last year.
He also went jet boating with his friends, followed by a meeting with children who tried Bollywood dancing on a Rajasthani folk song Kesariya balam, as well as some Maori-Indian fusion dancing.
