Hand in glove

But Singh is in no mood to party; instead he’s spending time working on the format of the show,along with Bulldog Media & Entertainment and Percept Picture Company,the producers of the show. “I want to take time off and celebrate my win but this,I feel,is more important to promote boxing in India. I have made a public figure of myself so that the sport comes to the fore and The Contender offers a great platform,” he says.

The Contender,an Indian franchise of the American show,by Mark Burnett Productions,currently on air on AXN,is hugely popular in the US with Sylvestor Stallone and ex-boxer Sugar Ray Leonard as hosts. The original selects all of 16 participants from across the North,East,West and South zones of the country and then pits them against one-another.

While Singh looks extremely comfortable facing the camera and public,to be able to hold the attention of audiences who have the option to switch to another channel can be different ball game. But the 27-year-old treats the topic with enviable nonchalance. “I just have to be myself,especially since it’s an environment I am already comfortable with. Besides,my role on this show extends to being a mentor as well as host to the many contenders.”

With The Contender in initial stages of planning,the show will be on air only in early 2010; the producers are yet to finalise the channel partner. And while Singh is likely to fill in Leonard’s shoes,the producers are on a lookout for Stallone’s contemporary — the Percept CEO Shailendra Singh hopes to approach either Salman Khan or Hrithik Roshan for the same. “I’ve got along well with Salman on his show Dus ka Dum but I can’t say which would be better,” he smiles,sensing a trap. “The press has made me diplomatic; now I watch my word,” he laughs.

Singh does not deny that like the original,the pull of the show lies in the reality drama. “We are a country of emotional people. My story made me a star. Similarly,most of the participants will come from financially weak background. Watching them win or lose and seeing their families cry or pray on-screen will offer the audiences all-round entertainment.”

The young achiever is already an inspiration to the aspiring but what Singh brings along with him is his rags to riches story,wit,confidence and his smashing good looks that have made him so popular with the public. The fact that he cannot converse in English doesn’t bother him one bit.

“I understand the language and I also know that to survive such cut-throat competition,it is important that I do. Give me some time,I’ll score a medal on that front too,” he promises.