In a candid conversation with News18 Showsha, Hollywood actor Charlie Vickers, known for his role in “The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power,” as dark lord ‘Sauron’ opened up about his admiration for Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli. The actor, who is a passionate cricket fan, revealed that outside of his support for the Australian cricket team, he holds Kohli in high regard, describing him as his favorite Indian cricketer.

A memorable encounter with Virat Kohli

Vickers recounted a special moment during his stay in Auckland, New Zealand, where he had a brief yet memorable encounter with Kohli. While staying at the same hotel as the cricket legend, Vickers walked by Kohli, an experience he described as “surreal.” The actor admitted that despite his admiration, he was too starstruck to greet Kohli at the time. “I once walked by Virat Kohli in a hotel in Auckland, and that was really surreal. So I’ll say him because of that encounter,” Vickers shared. When asked if he spoke to Kohli, Vickers said, “No, I was too nervous,”

Hollywood actor’s introduction to Bollywood

During the interview, Vickers also touched upon his growing interest in Indian culture, particularly Bollywood. He credited former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee as his introduction to the vibrant world of Indian cinema. Lee, who made a name for himself in Bollywood through his musical collaboration with legendary singer Asha Bhosle on the track “You’re The One For Me,” became Vickers’ “gateway” to Bollywood. He expressed his intention to delve deeper into Bollywood, inspired by Lee’s successful crossover into the industry.

“I’ve never had the chance to explore Indian cinema, but my only way into Bollywood has been through cricketers because cricket is so massive in India, and I’m a big cricket fan in Australia. There was an Australian fast bowler named Brett Lee, who became quite big in the Bollywood scene as a musician. Brett Lee is my window into Bollywood; I have to learn more about it.” Vickers concluded.

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Kohli: A global icon of the sport

Kohli’s impact on the global cricket scene is undeniable. With over 270 million followers on Instagram, The 35-year-old is not just a cricketer but a global sports icon. His influence extends far beyond the cricket field, resonating with fans and admirers around the world, including celebrities like Vickers.

Kohli will next feature for India’s upcoming home series against Bangladesh which is set to begin next month. Following his retirement from T20 internationals after India’s triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup in June, Kohli has shifted his focus to excelling in the other two formats of the game. The 35-year-old remains a central figure in Indian cricket, continuing to inspire millions with his performances on the field and his persona off it.

Rings of Power season 2

The journey into Middle Earth is set to continue with the highly anticipated second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” This season, which takes place hundreds of years before the iconic events depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” series, is poised to delve deeper into the rich lore and history of Middle Earth. The series returns to Prime Video on August 29, offering viewers a chance to explore more of this epic world, filled with ancient legends and timeless conflicts.

Also READ: Karn Sharma reflects on Virat Kohli’s bold decision during the 2014 Adelaide Test against Australia

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