Published: Mar 17, 2015, 04:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 17, 2015, 05:00 PM (IST)
Everybody is working calmly, head in desktop, pin-drop silence. The clock strikes one, and just like that there is a lift in spirits. Someone has just walked in, and has instantly been mobbed. People start singing, “Mauka, Mauka!” Whispers go around, who has come? Who is he? “Vishal Malhotra!” “Who?” “Arrey, the Mauka Mauka guy!” Read: Meet the ‘Mauka Mauka’ man of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Star Sports advertisement
Vishal Malhotra was pleasantly surprised with the fame and recognition he has managed to get from the campaign. People know him by his character — a diehard Pakistan fan who is cheering his team — and not by name. He had come down for an interview. No wonder there were plenty of people lining up for a few selfies (including me), ready to fire their questions at him. He was calm, happy to be among the crowd, and kept answering questions. It is like a small joy when you get to see a television personality in front of your eyes. And that showed in the manner in which people lined up to have a talk with him. READ: Star Sports mocks India’s poor World Cup record vs South Africa in new TV ad
He was asked about his journey and he answered the queries happily. Crediting the entire team for the campaign he said he was happy to have got the recognition and hoped that he continues to stay in the limelight. A very jolly person, he happily got along with everyone and helped quench the thirst of people waiting to hear something about him and his journey. He mentioned his involvement with sport leaned more toward Squash and Badminton, and that he enjoys swimming. Adding to it, he specified that he did watch cricket often when India played, but the interest level has gone up a bit after the success of this recent campaign. READ: India vs Pakistan, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Our celebrations and your “kab phorengey”
On his experience of shooting the ad, he was quick to thank his director for giving him the freedom to just play himself and not worry about anything else. Malhotra said the team worked very hard and the result is for all to see. He concluded saying that at the end of the day, the viewers are the real deciders, if they like him and are accepting him everywhere, he is more than happy to be like that.
It is always nice to see people putting in their all doing something they love, and Vishal Malhotra did not miss out. He pounced on this very “mauka, mauka!”
(Nikhil Popat is a cricket lover and a PotterHead, who loves to be himself, and is not shy of expressing himself. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)
