Pleased as punch

Not much, except that I receive too many party invitations. I have to oblige, for the sake of boxing. I want to promote the sport in India and bring it to the same level as cricket by being more visible. IPL-like tournaments will help too. The corporate world can change everything.

Ques Mumbai8217;s charm has touched you too.

Most successful cricketers are based out of Mumbai. I am merely here for some work and the event.

Ques But are you not compromising on your training?

I am the same and I will prove it with results. If I don8217;t, come back to me with the same question. I did take a break after my win but now I am back at my training camp in Patiala. I am already training for five hours a day.

Ques What do you do in your spare time?

I sleep. And listen to music 8212; I love Kailash Kher8217;s songs.

Ques Movie offers?

I love watching them, especially Akshay Kumar8217;s films, but I don8217;t have the time to act. Promotions are different; movies are full-time commitment and I don8217;t think I can act. Besides, the actors may not like it if a boxer joins their fraternity.

Ques Why do you say so?

All I can tell you is that an actor refused to shoot with me recently.

Ques How about an item number?

That8217;s Rakhi Sawant job, not mine.

Ques How are things back home?

My family8217;s extremely proud of me. But my real home is National Institute of Sports, my training camp in Patiala. It has such a lively sporty feel to it that if you come there, I promise you, you8217;ll forget Mumbai.

Ques You have a huge female fan following.

Don8217;t even talk about it. I am fed-up. They write all kinds of letters to me and mail them to my home address and my parents end up reading them.

Ques So you8217;re still not used to all the limelight?

I am ,but my humble parents are not.

Ques Do you have a girlfriend?

I have many friends and something or the other keeps coming up in the media.

Ques You8217;re neither accepting nor denying it.

So why not leave it at that?