Ultimate Kho Kho beaming on SONY TEN 1 (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi and Marathi) SONY TEN 4 (Telugu and Tamil) channels and SonyLIV is a major nostalgia ride for most of us, taking us back to school. This is ‘India’s first-ever professional kho kho league’ and is promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with Kho Kho Federation of India. Chennai Quick Guns (KLO Sports), Gujarat Giants (Adani Sportsline), Mumbai Khiladis (co-owned by Badshah and Punit Balan), Odisha Juggernauts (Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company), Rajasthan Warriors (Capri Global) and Telugu Yoddhas (GMR Sports) are the six teams taking part in the inaugural league that is taking place in the Badminton Hall at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahalunge, Pune, Maharashtra. While the top four teams will make it to the play-offs, the finals are slated for September 4. The Telegraph chatted with the one of the anchors of the league, Aparshakti Khurana, on his love for the game, sports in general and whose biopic would he like to star in.
What are your memories of playing kho kho in school? Did you enjoy it?
Oh of course! I think everybody has picture-perfect memories of playing kho kho in school and there is a nostalgia attached to it. Whenever I think I am hosting this league I always go back to my schooldays and think about those free games periods when we would get rid of our formal shoes and start playing kho-kho, when there was no PT and we weren’t in our fleets. We used to play barefoot.
Were you the sporty kind?
I have always been into sports... cricket, football, skating, squash, TT, kho kho. I was the sports captain of my school.
A match in Ultimate Kho Kho, in progress. Picture: https://www.ultimatekhokho.com/
Who are your favourite sports people?
There are many! (Laughs) I have been following sports for the last 25-30 years. So, I have had my favourites in every era, but somebody who has been an all-time favourite is Fauja Singh. He is one of the oldest marathon runners in the world. I really love his energy and determination. When I was working at a radio station, mere workstation pe sirf ek hi insaan ki tasveer hoti thi and he used to inspire me each day of the year to work harder, move in better direction in life, personally and professionally. I have met him. I especially flew down from Bombay to Chandigarh when he was in Chandigarh for a sporting event. I clicked a selfie with him and it was one of the best days of my life. He is a legend.
If you could play a sport professionally, what would it be?
Well, if you ask me today, I would love to play squash professionally or badminton. Suddenly there is an interest towards racquet sports. When I was in school, I was not very big on racquet sports. It was always about football and cricket.
Whose biopic would you like to star in: Yuvraj Singh has one of the most interesting personal and professional graphs. Bahut hi ek interesting kahaani hai unki. I would love to feature in Yuvi paji’s biopic as Yuvi paji.
Whose biopic would you like to star in?
I think Yuvi paji, Yuvraj Singh has one of the most interesting personal and professional graphs. Bahut hi ek interesting kahaani hai unki. I would love to feature in Yuvi paji’s biopic as Yuvi paji. As I took Fauja sir’s name, if I could play Fauja Singh it would be amazing.
How often do you play a sport now?
I am a sportsperson in the head. I don’t function like an actor. I run every day and play a sport every day... badminton, football, TT, squash, volleyball, skating... all these sports are an integral part of my life. Now kho kho as well.
Game buddies from amongst your peers: Kartik (Aaryan) is a good footballer. Of course RK. Ranbir (Kapoor) is a total package of everything. He is really good on the field.
Who are your game buddies from amongst your peers?
There are quite a few. Jim Sarbh plays well. Kartik (Aaryan) is a good footballer. Of course RK. Ranbir (Kapoor) is a total package of everything. He is really good on the field. Shoojitda (Sircar) is a cool left-winger we have in our All Stars (Football) Club. Shashank Khaitan, the director of Badrinath ki Dulhania, Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania is a good footballer. Caesar from Bosco-Caesar is a good defender.
Do you have a favourite sports film?
Paan Singh Tomar and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar are my all-time favourite films.
A co-star with sportsman spirit: Rajkummar Rao. He takes everybody together. One of the main reasons for Stree being such a huge hit is that Rajkummar wanted everybody to work hand in hand.
Who among the people you have worked with, has great sportsman spirit?
Hands down, Rajkummar Rao. He takes everybody together. One of the main reasons for Stree being such a huge hit is that Rajkummar wanted everybody to work hand in hand. Varun Dhawan is also a really good team player. It’s important to work with people who look out for each other. That’s one of the main reasons why both of them have had such a huge career graph.