A full circle

Good looks and talent clubbed together is a heady combination and the former cricketer and actor, Salil Ankola, seems to be a shining example of that; he has not one, but three skills to boast of, that of a cook being the latest revelation.

Age seems to have done good to the 45-year-old, a self-confessed ‘by default’ actor, who claims that cricket will always be his first love. “Yes, if given a cricket coaching opportunity, I will definitely take it up, even though I am focussing on acting right now,” says Ankola. And as
far as cooking is concerned, he is well known in his circle for his exclusive biryani.

However, his focus right now is on an interesting television project, the shooting of which is scheduled to start by this month end. Ankola is leaving no stone unturned to be fit and fabulous for his next reel role. “I was in my hometown, Pune, for Ganpati celebrations; when I came back, I realised that my revelries had taken a toll on me and had given me a mini tummy in just five days. I became paranoid and worked the tummy off in just three days. The camera captures the slightest of flaws, so fitness and toning up is crucial,”
says Ankola.

Till a few months ago, Ankola was in the news for the wrong reason of being an alcoholic, but now, it seems that a fresh lease of life has been injected into him. Even though he spent two tough years in a rehab to kick out the habit, it was solely his determination that yielded results. “The best part is that I can choose against having it anymore, even though it is right in front of me,” he says.

The athletic fast bowler, instantly shot to fame after he made a dramatic debut for Bombay in 1988-89, grabbing a hat-trick and scoring 43 against Gujarat, followed by a six-wicket haul against Baroda. His first sweet success moment came when he took 6 wickets for 77 runs in the tour-opener in Pakistan in 1989-90; and during his Test debut against Pakistan at Karachi, where he took 2 for 128.

But injuries took their toll and he did not appear again in that series. He was recalled to the side for the 1996 World Cup, and played in one series after that. Within a year, at 28, he announced his retirement to pursue a career in acting.

Ankola, who had been receiving acting offers since his cricketing days, chose roles he enjoyed doing, swinging between movies and television. He thoroughly enjoyed playing a cop in Kurukshetra, along with actor Sanjay Dutt, as much as he enjoyed playing a villain in Chura Liyaa Hai Tumhe, which received a great deal of appreciation. “People seem to like me as a villain, but having said that I would never want to play a rapist,” he says. He also revealed that he had fun during his Big Boss days and would not mind doing it again.

On the personal front, Ankola has found solace in Ria Banerjee, a doctor. “She is a great companion and I think it is our love for good food that connects the two of us. We met last year in Delhi, and she has been extremely supportive ever since,” says Ankola.

The best part about Ankola is that there is a halo of positivity around him. He wakes up early and heads straight to the gym for a one-and-a-half hour of rigorous workout. And the results are for all to see. He had put on a lot of weight a few years ago, but is now fit and toned up.

“Moreover, I take good care of my diet, which includes more of proteins and less of carbohydrates. I also have loads of salads and nuts and have my dinner by 7pm,” he says.

He has definitely bounced back and it is just a matter of time when he will be completely back in the public arena--with a bang this time.