On the occasion of National Sports Day, actor Pratham Kunwar—who is set to feature as the lead in Dangal TV’s upcoming show Hamari Bhabhi No 1 and was previously seen as the lead in Jhallee—shared his deep-rooted passion for sports, fitness, and his childhood dream of stepping onto the cricket pitch.
For Pratham, love for athletics isn’t a recently acquired habit for the camera; it has been a core part of his identity. “Sports have always been a very big part of my life, even before acting. I actually wanted to become a cricketer before I became an actor, so cricket has always been very close to my heart,” he revealed. “Even today, whenever I switch on the TV, most of the time it is to watch sports—whether it’s cricket, football during the season, or tennis.”
When asked which sport he wishes he were a secret pro at, cricket remains the undisputed answer. “I am obsessed with cricket and genuinely love the sport. If I could choose one sport to be a professional at, it would always be cricket.” While he hasn’t had the chance to portray a sportsman on screen yet, he remains eager: “I would absolutely love to do a sports-based role, especially where I play a cricketer, because that has always been a dream of mine.”
Beyond cricket, Pratham admits to being a huge fan of lawn tennis, though he prefers enjoying it from the comfort of his couch. “I really enjoy watching tennis, especially players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. I can watch them play for hours, but I honestly feel that if I ever tried playing at that level myself, I would probably fail miserably. Playing it is a completely different ball game.”
When it comes to discipline and physical prowess, Pratham draws inspiration from both professional athletes and his industry peers. “Definitely Virat Kohli. I have seen videos of his workouts and the kind of intense training he goes through before playing, and it is seriously impressive. He is extremely fit and very disciplined, so I would love to experience his workout regimen for a week.”
Speaking about his friend’s high fitness levels, he said, “I have known my friend and co-star Danish Bhat for a while and watched his fitness journey for almost ten years. Even a decade ago, he had a very professional, athletic body. His consistency is something I really admire.”
Both sports and acting demand resilience in the face of intense public scrutiny, a challenge Pratham navigates with a grounded mindset. “Rejection and the pressure to perform are simply part of the journey, whether you’re pursuing a career in acting or athletics,” he reflects. “When I encounter rejection, I make an effort to stay calm and keep my focus on my work. I try to take a positive approach, reminding myself that it might mean I need to put in even more effort. Instead of panicking or dwelling on it, I simply stay focused and keep pushing ahead.”
