When I quit my job with Reliance in 2001 to pursue martial arts full time,it took everybody by surprise. But today with choreographing fight sequences in films like the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Don, shows for television, an institution, training classes for school children and corporates under my belt, I've my hands full.
As a child, I used to watch a lot of Bruce Lee films and in 1987 enrolled in a karate class in Delhi. Besides karate, I learnt Chinese kick-boxing, kung fu, Muay Thai, Okinawa Te and k a l a r i p a y a t t u . In fact, in the last six years I have mastered six martial art forms and plan to learn a few more. My ambition is to master as many as possible.
When I was about 10, my father presented me with a video cassette of the film 36 Chambers of Shaolin. That became an all-time favourite of mine. I wanted to study at Shaolin and train to become a master myself. In 1999, I went to a business school in Holland and graduated with a gold medal. On my return to India, I joined the Reliance group of companies. I wouldn’t say I was very happy there because my mind would drift to honing my martial arts skills. Actually, other than martial arts very few things mattered to me.
After watching a television programme on Shaolin I decided to go to China to learn the finer points under the tutelage of the greatest living master Shiheng Jun. But my immediate superior refused to grant me three months leave. But thankfully Anil Ambani stepped in and cleared my leave application.
My father had recently passed away. However, my mother supported my decision though she was going through a terrible phase, emotionally and financially.
The trip to Shaolin was quite expensive. My mother and I pooled in our savings to scrape together the Rs 1 lakh that I needed. I left for China in 2001. I never regretted the decision.
Over the last few years things have fallen in place. Today I make enough money by holding de-stressing sessions for white-collar workers in organisations such as Bhel, Seagrams and PSL among others. Film and television assignments also keep me busy. I have co-anchored television shows for domestic as well as international channels.
I have two more film projects lined up for this year—Goal (with John Abraham and Bipasha Basu) in which I am the martial arts designer. I will also be playing a small role in the film, so in a way this marks my debut as an actor too; the other one is a film directed by Sashi Ranjan in which I again play a small role apart from directing the fight sequences.
And my dream child, Shaolin Academy, a martial arts institute is doing quite well. I guess it pays to do unconventional things and follow your dreams.
