'Show business is not for me'

Tennis ace Sania Mirza, who has done her fair share of time in front of the camera playing the sport, has now decided to give television and acting a try.

The versatile sportstar will be seen on Sony PIX, in a project called the ‘PIX School of BONDing’, where she will give out tips on how to woo a woman.

The channel is presenting a ‘Bond Film Festival’, where it is airing 23 Bond films in a span of 12 weeks. As part of the festival, Sania will be advising people on how to make their way into a woman’s heart — the Bond way. She says, “It’s different to be in front of the camera. Although I have done commercials before, it’s not the same as acting. This has been a great experience.” The multi-talented sportstar adds, “I feel like I have grown up with time.”

Talking about her experience, she says, “It was good but hard in the beginning. I wasn’t sure what to do and had to do many takes. But the directors were great and patient with me.”

On being asked whether she is considering a career change, she laughs and says “definitely not”. “This has been different but I’m not planning to quit tennis anytime soon. I’m a shy and quiet person so acting and show business are not for me,” she says.

How does she think a man should win over a woman’s heart? “A man should be charming, courageous, understanding, strong and be able to protect the woman. These are just few of the qualities,” she says. When asked if that is how her husband, cricketer Shoaib Malik, won her over, she says, “I’m a private person but he definitely had some of those qualities.”

Talking about the upcoming International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), she says, “I can’t wait! I’m very excited to have gotten a chance to play with Roger (Federer). This is a great time for tennis in India. This will inspire many people to take up the sport.” She adds, “Tennis has grown over the years and I know that one day, soon, it will be just as big here as it is internationally.” Sania and Roger are part of the Delhi franchise, ‘Indian Aces’, in the IPTL.

Although she calls herself a private person, she is constantly hounded by the media. The tennis star reveals that there are things that she likes to keep a secret. When asked about it, she says, “I have a middle name that most people don’t know about.” But the mysterious lass refuses to reveal what it is!