Malala Yousafzai Says She's A Fan Of Sachin Tendulkar's Straight Drive And Relates To Indian Culture

Debashree Mohanty,TNN
Debashree Mohanty,TNN
Updated on Nov 22, 2015, 17:55 IST-8.5 K Shares
Malala Sachin

From being an education campaigner to becoming the youngest recipient of the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai has had an eventful life so far. 

But the fame and attention around her achievement have not changed her as an individual. 

Malala Yousafzai

CNN

In a recent interview to The Times of India, the 18-year-old opened up on her love to Indian culture, Cricket and even Bollywood. 

Q. Documentary drama or speeches - what does Malala prefer?

I am not comfortable facing the camera, it makes me conscious. I am better off giving speeches. But before important gatherings, I practise my words many times over. On the eve of the UN speech, I had a sleepless night. In the morning, I could barely eat.

Q. How did your brothers react to you winning the Nobel Peace Prize?

My younger brother, 10, told me I may have won the Nobel Peace Prize, but at home I dare not behave like the boss.

Q. What is it that you fight about the most?

Strangely, it's education! Whenever I go to their room and ask them to study instead of playing, they start fighting with me. "Give speeches elsewhere", is a very common refrain at my home.

Q. What is it you enjoy doing when you are not studying?

I love listening to peppy music - rap by Honey Singh. I also watch films with my friends and go to restaurants. The last movie I loved was Bajrangi Bhaijaan. I clapped non-stop when the film got over.

Q. When was the last time you laughed out aloud?

When I watched Piku. The toilet humour was just too much. I'm laughing even thinking about it.

Q. Do you watch Indian soaps?

I used to watch all serials and loved them when I was in the SWAT region. But in the UK, there's no time to follow serials. I feast on movies whenever I can. Back then, I used to enjoy dramas and cried along with the actors.

Q. Do you have a favourite actor in Bollywood?

I think Shah Rukh Khan possesses some kind of a Midas touch. Whatever he does is absolutely perfect. I love all the films that I have seen of him, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge being an all-time favourite.

Q. Why Hindi films?

I relate to Indian culture the most — from food to clothes — everything is quite similar but more stylish and grand.

Q. What do you like wearing?

I have a few Indian suits that I wear on occasions. I love draping shawls. The way I put it on my head is the way girls in the SWAT region wear their shawls. I have about 12 shades that I like to mix and match.

Q. You are mostly seen in a red shawl - is that your favourite colour?

My parents tell me red suits me the best but I love pink clothes and accessories a lot.

Q. Your most cherished accessory?

My wrist watch which has a pink dial!

Q. Are you a voracious reader?

Whenever I have time, I read non-fiction novels. Although, at the moment I am reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

Q. How do you bond with your father?

We go on long walks and talk about history - Hitler and Stalin make for our favourite meal-time conversation.

Q. Do you still think about the time you were shot?

From the time I was shot in the head to the day when I woke up after surgery - those hours have been completely erased from my memory. When people tell me that I was shot point blank, I feel they are talking about some other person. My mother is very scared after the incident. She panics if I'm not back home in time.

Q. Is there a subject that you absolutely dislike in school?

I prefer humanities over science. I especially love history.

Q. What kind of food do you like?

In the UK, I crave spicy Indian and Pakistani

curries. I love rice too though I have to cut down on my rice consumption. My best dish of all time is Pakistani biryani with Indian curry.

I cannot cook at all. My mother wants me to learn the basics before I leave for university.

Q. What else do you love doing?

I love to travel to new places. I love Dubai because the weather is ideal (respite from the damp, cold conditions in the UK). I have cousins and relatives there. We go to malls or spend evenings, chatting.

Q. Which sport do you you enjoy?

I like to watch cricket. Sachin Tendulkar's straight drive was a pleasure to watch. I loved Shahid Afridi's style very much.

(Originally published in The Times of India)