Guess who’s making a big splash back on TV? It’s Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former cricketer, politician, and lively commentator. He’s now joining “India’s Got Talent” (IGT) as a judge. You’ll see him sharing the big desk with the ever-stylish Malaika Arora and the melodious Shaan. We recently caught up with him for an exclusive chat with Amar Ujala. He shared some truly insightful thoughts.
Sidhu is super excited about “India’s Got Talent.” He told us the show does a wonderful job. It takes hidden talent and brings it into the spotlight for everyone to see. He believes it gives artists a huge boost. It offers them courage and a real chance to shine. They get to show their skills and earn the respect they deserve. According to Sidhu, the show is full of amazing talent. Some acts are just magical. He mentioned a “Hanuman Chalisa” performance that deeply moved him just yesterday. An Assamese group reminded him of the legendary Bhupen Hazarika. A traditional conjurer from Rajasthan brought their ancient art to the stage. He even saw a young girl explain the true meaning of yoga. It’s clear that even little kids are showcasing incredible talent on this platform. That, he says, is exactly what the show is all about.
From “Strokeless Wonder” to Star
Sidhu didn’t shy away from talking about his own past struggles. He shared a powerful story about his early days. People once called him a “Strokeless Wonder” and wrote him off. He remembers the tears in his father’s eyes. His dad had one big dream: for his son to play cricket for India. Sidhu actually wanted to join the army. But he couldn’t, because his father was alone at home.
Things took a tough turn when an article came out. It labeled him the “Strokeless Wonder” who had only played one match for India. He was dropped from the team. For the next four years, he made a silent vow. He stopped wearing colorful clothes. He taped that very newspaper article next to his bed. Every night, he slept looking at it. Then, every morning at 3 AM, he was up. He would roll the cricket pitch himself. He practiced hitting 125 sixes daily until his hands literally bled. At night, sometimes until 1 or 2 AM, he’d bribe neighborhood kids with chocolates. They would bowl to him on a makeshift pitch he built behind his house.
His hard work paid off. After four years of relentless effort, he made it onto the World Cup team. He smashed lots of sixes in his first two games. He recalled a moment when they were traveling to Sharjah. Ravi Shastri threw a newspaper at him. He said, “This is the same newspaper that wrote you were finished four years ago.” The front page now read something incredible. It hailed him as “Navjot Singh Sidhu: From Strokeless Wonder to Strokes Thunder.” Sidhu’s lesson from all this is simple: You are the master of your own destiny.
Judging with the Best
Sidhu also spoke warmly about his fellow judges. He said he learns something new from each of them. Malaika, he feels, is the true guiding force of the show. She’s really the heart and soul. Her discipline and graceful presence are truly admirable. From Shaan, he learned a valuable life lesson. He realized that anger isn’t a necessary part of life. Shaan’s constant smile and cheerful spirit bring a lot of peace to the set.
IGT’s Unique Spark
We also asked Sidhu about the difference between “India’s Got Talent” and his past TV ventures. He said IGT is special because it lets him show his real self. It’s not just about jokes and laughter. The show also brings serious moments and new ideas. There’s a wonderful uncertainty to the stage. You never know what amazing talent will surprise you next. That, he believes, is its true charm.
He looked back at his earlier TV career too. He mentioned discovering Kapil Sharma during his very first seasons. Kapil’s journey, Sidhu noted, is a story of struggle and constant improvement. On Kapil’s show, Sidhu felt editing often focused only on the funny parts. But on IGT, he gets to show everything. There’s humor, seriousness, and genuine inspiration. That’s the big difference. It’s why IGT is a stage where both the artists’ talent and their true personalities truly shine.