Sangram Singh: I told Anushka Sharma, 'NH10' is not how Haryanvis are

Sangram Singh knows both Gurgaon and Gurugram. The Haryanvi wrestler and TV personality has seen both the flourishing fields of agricultural Haryana, and the urban jungle of the Gurgaon. And Haryana is incomplete without the Millennium City, he told GT on a recent visit here.
'Frankly, Gurgaon and I grew up together,' he says. 'It's the economic capital of north India.The city has created so many job opportunities and today, many people, especially youngsters, earn their bread and butter here. I like the facilities here, but I feel sad when I see corporate employees leading such stressful lives. My suggestion to them would be to take care of their health as well. Development is a good thing, but Haryana is the land of doodh dahi ka khana' aur aap chowmein kha rahe ho din raat. It's good to be progressive, but don't shun the good things about tradition,' he says.
Told Anushka Haryanvis are innocent, just strongly built
Sangram has been a part of many reality shows and says that as far as playing fictional roles is concerned, experience has taught him to wait for the right opportunities. Ask him about the image of Haryanvis on screen, and he shares an anecdote. 'After 'NH10', I told Anushka Sharma that aapne jaise Haryanvis ko dikhaya hai, woh bilkul waise nahin hote. They are innocent people with a strong build and an undiplomatic attitude. I told her many anecdotes about innocent Jats in love and she laughed a lot. Today, she is part of a film based in Haryana,' he says.

Haryana is 80% of Indian sports
Sangram also recently went to Jind to promote kabbadi. 'If you take Haryana out of India, you'll lose 80% of your best sportspersons,' he says emphatically.
Sangram adds, 'I want to encourage more people in small villages to take up sports. I wanted to win an Olympic medal for my country but because of circumstances, I had to become a professional wrestler. I will have fulfilled my dream if I can support even one kid who wins a medal for the country,' he adds.
Something of a fitness guru, Sangram says that when he is in Gurgaon, he likes to run on the Golf Course Road at night. Isn't that dangerous, given the crime rate in the city? 'Mere saath kabhi kuch nahin hua. In fact, when people recognize me, they offer me a lift back to the hotel!' he says, laughing.

Girlfriend Payal has a Gurgaon connection too
He shares another connection with Gurgaon that involves his girlfriend, Payal Rohatgi. 'Payal's parents used to live separately. Her father was in Gurgaon, while her mother was in Ahmedabad. I've been to his place with Payal many times. We finally convinced him to go back to Ahmedabad to be with his family,' he says. So when is he coming to Gurgaon with Payal next? 'Shaadi ke baad Mata ke darshan ke liye toh aana hi padega,' he says.
The darshan he's talking about is at the city's famous Sheetala Mata Mandir, a temple he has been visiting since childhood. A devout believer, he says, 'Whenever I am in Delhi, I make sure I spend a day in Gurgaon. I have a lot of friends living here also... some are in real estate, some are in the Gurgaon Police and some are also fashion designers.'
Payal has learnt Haryanvi now
Ask him if Payal has learnt Haryanvi, and Sangram says, 'I used to vent my anger by saying things in Haryanvi after an argument, and she couldn't understand a thing. But now she has learnt to pick up what I'm saying. Now I have to go completely quiet after an argument!'
He shares another anecdote about Payal's family and himself, saying, 'Everybody in Payal's family is an engineer, and they used to tell me ki kaash Sangram tumne thoda aur padha hota. As destiny had it, I was invited to the various alma maters of her family members as the chief guest. Now I tell them ki aap log thoda kam padh lete toh bhi kuch nahin bigadta,' he laughs.