‘Shoaib is a better dancer’ ...says tennis ace Sania Mirza, who is all set to dance with her cricketer husband in the forthcoming reality show Nach Baliye

‘Shoaib is a better dancer’

...says tennis ace Sania Mirza, who is all set to dance with her cricketer husband in the forthcoming reality show Nach Baliye

From tennis to dance It’s a different experience altogether. It’s challenging because I have never done it before and it’s a lot of fun. I had some time because it’s off season for me. Shoaib loves dancing and I love trying something new. So, we agreed to be a guest couple on Nach Baliye (Star Plus). On learning to dance We have never danced together before, save at our wedding. We have shot for one romantic song in which there were a couple of lifts and stuff like that, so we had to practice for a couple of days. However, since we are sports people, we have some level of hand-eye co-ordination. But Shoaib, I think, is a better dancer. On making cross-border marriages work In any marriage you have to make certain adjustments, we are no different. No two people are the same and you have to work on it. But yes, since we are from two different countries we have to sacrifice our time together. We can’t spend a lot of time with each other. But being a sportsperson, my husband understands the pressures, the wins and losses that come with my profession. Having said that, when we are at home, we hardly speak about tennis or cricket. We keep it away. On India-Pakistan matches It’s not as dramatic as people are making it sound. Shoaib has his favourites and I have mine. But when he is playing, it’s different. He wants his own team to win. I support India but as my husband, I want him to do well. When he gets upset (if the team has lost or he hasn’t played well), I have to juggle my role as a person, wife and a sportsperson. On her upcoming tennis academy Along with the tennis academy, I am also launching a coffee resto-lounge. The tennis academy is close to my heart, it’s been my dream project.