Rubaru Mr. India Glam International Viraj Babbar has always been a sports enthusiast. He has participated in roller skating competitions, badminton, and table tennis tournaments, played basketball in school and college, and shot put at the national level, and stressed that sports teach discipline.
 
Speaking on the occasion of National Sports Day, which is celebrated on August 29th to honor the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, Viraj said, “Sports taught me how important it is to stay fit and in shape. Not only do your clothes fit better, but your body and mind work with efficiency. I have learned discipline and that we have to do the same thing again and again to attain perfection; there is no other mantra. Consistency over anything.”
 
His favorite sportspeople are Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. He said, “My father and I used to watch cricket together. Dada taught me that you're not supposed to take unnecessary attitude from people. Mahi, on the other hand, taught me that you need to stay calm to make the best decisions of your life.”
 
“And, obviously, sports is such a field that it will teach you a plethora of life lessons, such as being fair, disciplined, consistent, and hardworking, to name a few, in my opinion,” he added.
 
Viraj believes that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag captured the true spirit of the sport and added, “Perfect storyline, fabulous casting, and great music. Perfect entertainer. I would have said MS Dhoni's biopic, but then everyone might think I am biased.”
 
He feels that both the entertainment and sports industries are very similar when it comes to being disciplined, patient, consistent, and hardworking. “In the entertainment industry, one faces a lot of rejection, but then you have to show up again with full enthusiasm and charisma. And even people who are working in the industry have to stay consistent with their hard work; they can't just relax after they have been a part of a few projects; they still have to update themselves and work consistently on their craft,” he said.
 
Though he believes that even if people go to the gym instead of playing a sport, it is good, he finds it monotonous. He said, “I love playing sports and games. I am not saying that going to the gym is bad; if you can do that consistently, do that. Anything over nothing is better. For me, I find it too monotonous, so I add a few game nights to my routine to keep up my adrenaline and dopamine levels.”
 
“But, I would say that sports are very important, not just for your fitness, but because it keeps you alive, it keeps you entertained, and you have that 1-1.5 hour to just be in the moment and enjoy the game to the fullest. You will have childlike fun, and it will elevate your fitness levels. I guess we can call it a win-win,” he added.
 
A message to your fans? “Everyone is living a stressful life these days; playing and having those small wins in life does change your opinion about yourself. This is the plain reason why we all play some or another game on our phones: we want to have that dopamine kick of winning. It also helps us be more focused in our day-to-day lives. And doing something that we enjoy gives us something to look forward to during the week. I mean, the mental, emotional, and physical benefits that we get from sports can't be matched by any other form of entertainment,” Viraj ended.