Kartik Aaryan, who has been busy shooting in Wai, took some time out to soak in the cricket frenzy and celebrate India’s unbeaten run in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with Bombay Times.

Ahead of the massive India vs Australia WC final today in Ahmedabad, positive about a historic win, the actor shares his thoughts. Excerpts…

There's no question of nervousness. There’s pure joy and excitement to see India get to the finals. We’ve had a dream run so far and it has been a historic World Cup. Be it the records we've broken and especially getting this far with only victories and NO LOSS is extremely commendable. I am super excited. It does feel like a fairy-tale.

I have already requested Kabir (Khan) sir to give us some time off from the shoot for the epic finale because that is something we cannot miss! My team and I have been shooting for the longest time throughout the world cup. But someone from my team is always updated with the match score and whenever we are between the shots, we would all watch it together. I have been following the world cup closely. I didn't want to miss watching Virat Kohli's tremendous form with the bat and Mohammed Shami's terrific bowling. The rush of watching the match with your closed ones is unmatched. My cricket fever doesn’t diminish even during hectic shoots.

I just enjoy the sport, be it playing or watching it. Even now when I get the chance, I am always game for it. On the sets of Chandu Champion whenever we get a break or a day off, we all plan a game of cricket and play together. I have so many memories attached to the game. Back in Gwalior, when we were kids, we used to play cricket on the streets a lot. I remember how everyone would get together to watch the World Cup, especially the India-Pakistan match. It felt like a festival. Everyone would be clapping and hooting and almost celebrating our fours and sixes and every wicket of the opposition. Even today, the thrill to watch our Indian players play is the same - it makes one’s heart thump with every ball. Cricket is a festival in India that everyone loves to celebrate with all their heart and spirit. Since I have been so fond of cricket since childhood, I am always star struck whenever I meet our cricket legends.

Not really but you know how it is when we Indians watch cricket with friends and family. We are so engrossed in it and want India to win every match at any cost, that if anything said or done works coincidentally in our favour, one must then follow it throughout the match (laughs). But all of this is fun and such superstitions must be treated lightly. Because no matter what we do, it is our team’s sheer hard work that produces results. They bleed blue to make us proud.

Virat's 50th ODI century was a milestone and what a proud & historic moment it was for all of us. What made this moment truly so special for everyone who has grown up loving & living cricket is the fact that Sachin Tendulkar sir himself was present at Wankhede. He’s known as the God of cricket and when his record was broken, he humbly congratulated Virat and praised him highly. That century was so memorable, even though he had cramps, he kept fighting and completed his 50th century - exceptional! K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, Bumrah are all in such a great form right now. Rohit Sharma is a phenomenal captain and finally, there are no words for Shami’s iconic bowling - the way he took 7 wickets in the semifinal, he owned the game and how. Despite missing the first 4 matches, he's the leading wicket taker in the tournament, hats off for this achievement. The semi-final match was iconic.

If we win this world cup, I am sure we will, India will celebrate another round of Diwali. Finally, 2003 WC ka badla pura ho jayega (laughs). When we had won the World Cup in 2011, I remember the streets were crowded, people were out with the national flag, celebrating on the roads with crackers and fireworks. What a moment it was! I hope to witness the same tonight. And I'm sure we will be celebrating it on our sets of Chandu Champion with the whole crew aur phir toh mere liye woh cheat meal day ban jaayega... fir se Cake kaatengey. Hope my trainers are not reading this (laughs).

Cricketer Mohammed Shami recently became a victim of social media bullying after he posted pictures of his wife in a sleeveless gown. Shami and his wife were accused of being un-Islamic by some, and he was told to “ensure that she wears hijab and modest clothes.“ Shami, however, stood his ground, posted more pictures and made it clear that “he knows what he should or shouldn't do.“ He also got support from other cricketers and celebs like Farhan and Javed Akhtar. This is not the first time that a celeb has been targeted by certain quarters for being 'un-Islamic'. In 2005, a cleric issued a fatwa, ordering the then 18-year-old Sania Mirza to stop wearing “indecent“ clothes while playing. Celebrities share their views on the issue:

KANEEZ SURKA, STAND-UP COMEDIAN
What bothers me most is a comment made to Mohammed Shami, which says, 'you shouldn't let your wife wear this'. What is this about him 'allowing or not allowing' her to do something? Why does a man in a woman's life decide what she should wear? The burkini issue was just like this. I think a woman should dress any way she feels and it's up to her to make her choices. This kind of social media bullying is wrong and unnecessary.

 
SARA KHAN, ACTRESS
Every woman has the right to dress according to her choice. I don't see any debate here; Mrs Shami was not wearing anything flimsy. For me, religion is personal, it is not right to impose your view on anyone. I can't understand why so much attention is paid to women's clothing when we have more serious issues like dowry and female infanticide to deal with.


SANA AMIN SHEIKH, ACTRESS
Through my experience, I can only say that there is a certain section whose thinking you can't change, unless they try and change their own views. Till then, it's best to ignore them. I was criticized for wearing sindoor even after finishing shooting for Krishnadasi (it goes away only after I wash my hair). But even if I wear it by choice, does it make me less of a Muslim? My nani and mother wore mangalsutras, does this make us any less Muslim?


FALAQ NAAZ, ACTRESS
I'm very active online and I post pics in sleeveless tops or hot pants, but this has never happened to me. However, during Ganpati festival, I uploaded a pic of a girl in a burqa, taking a Ganpati home, for which I faced backlash. Bahut logon ne bola ki main Muslim nahi hoon, par mera khuda mere dil mein basta hai. The incident with Shami's wife is nothing but nonsense. You can't tell anyone to dress or live a certain way. I wear sleeveless, go to temples, churches, put sindoor, but I respect my religion more than anything.


SANA KHAAN, ACTRESS
These comments are proof of the sick mindset that is prevailing among people, who fail to understand the true meaning of their religion. If a husband is fine with what his wife wears on a public platform, I don't see any reason why outsiders should object. These detractors are cowards who bring you down with their scathing remarks on social media. Besides, a hijab is no guarantee of a strong connect with God. One should be allowed to lead her life the way she wants to.


TASNEEM MEHTA, HERITAGE CONSERVATION EXPERT
I agree with Mohammed Shami. What you wear is no indication of what kind of person you are. What counts is the kind of human being you are, definitely not what you choose to wear. I'm very comfortable understanding and appreciating other cultures. I think religion is a way of making you good human being. It's also the way you look at a woman's body that matters. It is a man's gaze that is wrong. If he has a wrong nazar and looks at a woman that way, he is at fault, not her. A woman must always be treated with respect.

ZAREEN KHAN, ACTRESS
I honestly don't know what the whole trolling is about. If it's because someone wore something, which according to others wasn't covered enough, then remember, that person has the freedom and the sensibility to wear what she feels is right. Others have no right to say things about it. I don't understand how these trollers even have the time to do things of no significance. If they really want to make themselves heard or troll something, then I'm sure there are more important issues that need light to be thrown upon, than someone's choice of clothes.