Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra in conversation with Indian international scholarship students in Auckland
Sidharth Malhotra recently toured New Zealand as Tourism New Zealand’s first Ambassador for India. Sidharth was extremely impressed by New Zealand’s offerings from adventure activities to food and wine, local culture and the people themselves including Indian students who have chosen to study in New Zealand. The star took time out of his very busy schedule to chat to a group of Indian international students on his first stop in Auckland.
Students from AUT University, Massey University, Media Design School, Unitec, and the University of Auckland came into school on a Sunday to ask the star their most burning questions at the University of Auckland’s Business School. Sidharth relished the opportunity to be back on a university campus after his debut film, Student of the Year.
As a former rugby player for the Delhi Hurricanes, Sidharth was very interested to hear from New Zealand India Sports Scholarships students who were in the crowd.
Surabhi Date and Ketaki Khare have been leading women’s rugby in India. Surabhi, a sport and exercise science student at AUT University was the youngest captain in the Asian women’s rugby circuit at just 19 years old and played in the first Indian sevens team. While Ketaki a sports coaching student at Unitec was a founding member of India’s first female rugby squad and the first Indian woman to win an international rugby scholarship.
Sidharth and the rugby players spoke about their desire to push rugby as a sport in India.
“It is very rare for a Bollywood star to have played rugby so it was an amazing opportunity to be able to speak with him.
“It was quite a surreal experience. Through our shared love of rugby we were talking like peers. It didn’t feel like I was talking to a big star. He made us all feel at ease. I was also really impressed that he wants to leverage his fame to help elevate rugby in India,” says Ketaki.
The students were keen to learn how they too could go on to become big successes. He advised them to never lose sight of their career goals.
“Always write down your target and keep your focus on it. Be confident, and always say yes to opportunities,” said Sidharth.
