Strapline: Catch Bhajji mouthing his favorite Rajnikanth dialogue, the secret behind his tattoos, and the story behind the Turbanator name in the latest episode of Bluntly Streaming by Sumedha
Get ready for an electrifying episode of Bluntly Streaming by Sumedha! In this can’t-miss installment, cricket legend Harbhajan Singh bares it all—both on and off the field. The episode dives into his exhilarating journey, from his iconic dance celebration after the World Cup final to exclusive insights into hislife, including the captivating stories behind his tattoos/ his all-time favorite Rajnikanth dialogue, and what it truly means to be the heartbeat of a cricket-crazy nation.
Host Sumedha Malhotra sits down with Harbhajan Singh, aka Bhajji for his fans, for an intimate and humorous dialogue. The host kicks off with a playful jab, asking which profile of his is best. Harbhajan responds with a chuckle, “Put it behind me. My back looks better; my face isn’t that popular with people.”
The conversation shifts seamlessly towards being blunt, in line with the sensational podcast series. Sumedha prods Harbhajan to say a dialogue in Tamil, as blunt as he can, in an attempt to showcase his unique talents. Laughing, the cricket star responds with the world-famous Rajnikanth dialogue: “Naan oru thadava sonna, nooru thadava sonna maadiri.” (If I say it once, it’s like saying it 100 times).
Moving to cricket, the star explains, “Cricket is a religion in this country. You’re worshipped and cursed. I can’t say what’s different, but it’s very popular. Every child wants to be a cricketer, every family dreams of it. Even if the child doesn’t want to be a cricketer, they’ll watch cricket. The game’s love is long-standing.”
Reflecting on the passion of the fans, he continues, “People’s love for the game is immense. My existence is due to cricket. Without cricket, I am nothing. Cricket has given us love and recognition. Who prays for others nowadays? But when India plays, people pray. Their prayers make us feel responsible to perform and win for them.”
Host Sumedha dives deeper, asking about the tattoos he sports. “I have tattoos of Bholenath and ‘Ik Onkar,’ signifying one God. If I could have any film star tattoo beside the one of Rajnikanth sir, then it would be Zeenat Aman from ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram.’ I was a fan after seeing that movie in the West Indies. But, I’m married now, so tattoos of actresses aren’t an option,” he confesses.
The conversation shifts to cricket, and Sumedha confronts him with the question – who first addressed him as Bhajji?” “Probably Nayan Mongia. Once it caught on, everyone called me Bhajji. Google it, and you get either vegetables or my photos,” he shares. Sumedha, ever the curious cat, prods him about the nickname ‘Turbanator.’ He explains that the moniker stuck to him after his hurricane performance in Australia, where he took 32 wickets in three matches. “The Australian media coined it, linking my turban with the ‘Terminator.'”
The host inquires about the cricket legend’s roots and Bhajji shares that he was passionate about cricket, practicing in any condition, even under scooter headlights. Tune in for an unforgettable episode titled “Harbhajan Singh Unplugged: Cricket, Controversy, Commentary, World Cup,” as part of the Bluntly Streaming podcast series by Sumedha on YouTube and Spotify.
