Cricketer Yuvraj Singh plans to ‘go out all guns blazing’ while talking about his life on the big screen
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 15, 2020)

A glorious over two-decade-long cricketing career, countless records and milestones, romantic link-ups, battle with cancer, philanthropy work and more — Yuvraj Singh’s life has all the ingredients needed for a commercial potboiler. And not disappointing his fans, the cricketer confirms to us in an exclusive interview that a biopic on his life is “already in the process”. He adds that the work on it has picked up since his retirement (from international cricket) in June last year. While fans definitely are waiting to see his journey on the big screen, Singh says it’ll take some more time because “after all, it’s not easy to talk about your life”. Here’s the 38-year-old, spilling the beans about the aspects his biopic will cover, and who he wants to see portray him on the celluloid.

There’s been a lot of talk about your biopic. What’s the status?
I’m much honoured that a lot of big production houses have approached me (to make a film), but I’ve not thought about when it’s going to come out, or who we’re going to do it with. We’re in talks with a few people, but nothing concrete has come out yet. The thing is that it’s a very emotional journey what I’ve gone through — my relationship with my dad (Yograj Singh), my cancer and all. So, I’m trying to put pen to paper, and finding it really hard to do it.

What is the most difficult part?
You know, sometimes, I look at my life and I’m like, ‘Hmmm, it’s a pretty interesting story’. So, I want to be 100% content with myself that, ‘Okay, now I’m ready to talk about my life’. After all, it’s not easy to talk about your life, especially when there are certain grey areas where you’re like, ‘Ah, I’m not very sure’. Hopefully, I’ll get the right direction.

Any actor you’re keen on seeing play your role in the biopic?
Probably, I’d play myself — that would be a bit desperate… (chuckles) hai na? See, that’s the director’s job to decide. If it’s going to be a Bollywood film, then Siddhant Chaturvedi — the guy who played M C Sher in Gully Boy (2019) — is a good option; I’d love to see him in the film. Then, I think Ayushmann (Khurrana) would also be a good fit. He’d just need to bulk up a little bit; thoda bahut khaana khake aana padega (laughs). There’s Ranveer (Singh) and Ranbir (Kapoor), too. And if it goes international, you have Jon Snow (Kit Harington) from Game Of Thrones (smiles). So, let’s see what direction the film goes.

Your mother, Shabnam Singh, has played a very crucial role in your journey. Any name suggestions for her part?
(Long pause) Kirron Kher ji would do a great job, I feel. As she has joined politics, I’m not sure if she’d do a film now. It all depends...

Are there any specific aspects of your life that you definitely want to show in your biopic?
I don’t know what the director and producer are going to portray, but I’m going to pretty much say everything about my life. The book that I’ve written (The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back) was more about cancer and the ICC World Cup (2011) win — that’s just 25% of my journey. My real journey is how I started playing, my bond with my father, how he was not a successful player and left playing very early. So, it’s full of ups and downs. I always wanted my journey to be stable, but it never was.

And anything that you don’t want to be told on the big screen?
Trust me, if I go out, I always go out all guns blazing. I don’t shy away from owning up. In my life, I’ve always believed that everyone’s not going to like, or dislike you. You’re going to live your life how you feel, how your heart tells you to. That’s how I’ve always lived my life. I must have made few mistakes in cricket, definitely, but when it comes to living my life, I have no regrets at all.

After three years of marital bliss, while Hazel has become ‘more patient’, Yuvraj is enjoying being ‘the queen of the house’
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 14, 2020)

Couples that travel together, stay together. That’s pretty much the relationship mantra for cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actor Hazel Keech, who are currently out of the country, holidaying. They completed three blissful years of marriage in November last year and as Yuvraj says, “it looks like 30 years, already”. On Valentine’s Day today, we got talking to the “fun-loving” pair, and decode the secret behind their bond.

It has been eight months since you retired... You must be getting a lot of time to spend with Hazel.
Yuvraj: Earlier I was busy, and now that I’m at home, Hazel has become busy. But it’s good because she has always been an actor, so I’m happy she’s doing what she always wanted to do.

How have these three years, with each other in your life, changed you as a person?
Yuvraj: I’ve realised I’m no longer the king of the house. Hazel is the king; I’m the queen (laughs). It has been a different journey. I got married at the right time when I was getting into a space where you don’t want to be changed. So, we adjusted as a couple. We were living for a while together before we got married and now, we are here. So, we’re used to each other, and Hazel would always be my valentine.
Hazel: The one major change in me that Yuvi has told me is patience. He, in the very beginning, had the most patience I had ever seen in a person — being patient with my insecurities, and times, when I’d be emotional — I’ve learnt that from him.

Do you guys believe in celebrating special days like Valentine’s?
Hazel: I do believe in celebrating things like Christmas, anniversaries and Diwali... basically family time. Valentine’s Day is more of a novelty. However, we travel a lot, not always together. So, when we’re together, we try and celebrate days like these. When we’re not, it’s more me who makes an effort — give him a card or flowers. But, when he has planned something, he goes all out and has done very, very romantic things, which I’m not going to share (laughs).

You’re quite out there on social media and are very open about your life. Do you ever put on extra thought before putting up a post?
Yuvraj: It’s more of banter, I’d say. We’re a fun loving couple who like pulling each other’s leg. We don’t pretend to be somebody else.
Hazel: We’re always joking on social media. We like to tease each other and that comes naturally because we have a great rapport and our relationship is based on a very solid friendship. We don’t really believe in too much PDA, as we don’t think it’s necessary to prove that we’re together. We’re very private people, so we try to keep our relationship that way.

But there would be times when you’ve to deal with nasty comments too… how do you handle those?
Yuvraj: Well, I ignore it and Hazel can’t. But, I tell her that there’s no point and it’s just a waste of time. Everybody will have an opinion of you. But you’re only going to do what you feel is right. That’s what I tell her. She doesn’t shy away from being honest, but sometimes, I’ve to tell her, ‘take it easy’ because I’ve also been like that and I’ve toned that down with time. But, she doesn’t really worry about what people are saying.

There are constant talks about you planning a family. What’s the status?
Yuvraj: I’m sure Hazel and I would get to that stage where we also want to have a child. But at the moment, she’s busy working and I’ve just retired so we’re very happy and content with what we’re doing in our respective lives. When we feel it’s the right time, we’d both give some good news.
Hazel: We’ve said this since we got married that we’re open to it but people have been quite unkind. I’m a woman who has transitioned from her 20s to 30s; I had eating disorders for very many years, and hence, my weight has fluctuated. So, it’s very harsh for people to constantly be speculating that I’m pregnant every time I gain some weight. It’s nobody’s business. When we do have a child or get pregnant, and we decide to share with the world, we will. But it’s a private matter and we wish people would respect me as a woman who’s trying hard to love and accept her body and the changes that she’s going through. And that’s difficult when there are constant speculations and fat-shaming.

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh on why he doesn’t want to announce date of wedding with actress-fiancée Hazel Keech
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 7, 2016)

When he emphatically announced that he is the best-looking cricketer, we saw a hint of his boyish arrogance that he famously brought to his game. Yuvraj Singh has a legendary story; he’s the man who battled cancer and cheated death to play cricket. But, he wishes life had panned out differently. Yuvi, who is on the brink of a new innings — professionally, with the launch of his clothing line and personally, he’s set to tie the knot with actress Hazel Keech.

He’s finally settling down, but has been careful to not announce the big day. “I have my guards up this time since it’s too special. Everyone is bound to have a personal life and when you have a schedule as hectic as ours, you hardly have a life. I don’t like being asked about Hazel because I don’t want anything about us to come out. By dating someone, you are not committing a crime. It is the most normal thing in this world. But, the way it is pursued here is wrong,” he says.

Every time a cricketer dates someone famous, their personal life is held responsible for poor performance on field, he adds. Like, in the case of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. “All Aussie, Kiwi and South African cricketers bring their girlfriends for matches, but I have never heard of them being ripped apart because of their spouses or partners. This happens only in India; things are misinterpreted,” he sighs.

Is his clothing line an extension of Brand Yuvraj Singh? He shakes his head, “You We Can isn’t a PR exercise. What started as an NGO to spread awareness and remove the stigma attached to the disease needs a solid source of continuous funds. I have been there and I will do anything to save lives of cancer patients and help them return to the lives they led earlier.”

He recalls being in denial when he was first diagnosed with cancer. “How can an athlete have cancer, I thought. When I composed myself, my biggest fear was whether I would be able to play or not. I was privileged enough to have a doctor who assured me that I will be cancer-free when I walk out of the hospital. It was a rough ride but I knew that if I can fight cancer, I will train and come back to play for India again. Getting glory for the country evokes a superhuman passion for the game. I regret missing my peak days but I am lucky to be alive. I returned from the dead as a better man,” he says.

Yuvraj feels other sports deserve equal attention as cricket. “The problem lies with sports associations. Times are changing now; kabaddi, football and hockey are getting prominence. Cricketers are soft targets. We are attacked because we get paid better. But is it really our fault? Instead of focusing on us and our money, people should talk about the hero who ran a marathon and collapsed due to lack of water. They should felicitate her like they do for us,” he says.

Furious Yuvraj reacts to racial slur against girlfriend in Jaipur
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 3, 2016)

Yuvraj Singh and his fiancee Hazel Keech were left fuming after the latter was at the receiving end of racial discrimination at the Jaipur branch of Western Union, an international money transfer corporation.

Hazel and her mother were holidaying in the desert city and had gone to the local branch to collect cash sent by her aunt in the US. In a tweet, the actress said that the branch officials told her, “Aapka naam Hindu nahi hai (You don’t have a Hindu name).” In support of his ladylove, Yuvi came down heavily on Western Union. The cricketer, who is in the city for the launch of his new clothing line, says, “I have already tweeted what I had to. Somebody transfers money into my account and I have come to take the money with relevant IDs. Take my information and give me my money. It is simple. Why should Hazel be told she is not Hindu? If she is half-Hindu and half-English, that’s not the poor girl’s fault. Why is there this kind of racial discrimination? Why are they bringing in her dharm (religious affiliation) into this? This kind of discrimination is rampant and is an issue that needs to be addressed in stern words. Some serious action has to be taken against the person who asked her that question.”

Prod him on what course of action is he planning and he adds, “I am really busy right now with my launch. I am going to take this up seriously. Nobody can get away with talking badly to Hazel. Why just her, no person should face this. But someone needs to be pulled up. I am not blaming the brand. They can’t be blamed for their staff’s behaviour, but they must take action against whoever has done this. This is not the way to behave with the aam aadmi.”

Despite repeated calls and messages to Ingrid Sahu, VP - Corporate Communications (Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe & CIS) at Western Union, she remained unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.