From Cricket to Football: Arjun Bijlani's World Cup Ritual with Son Ayaan

Growing up, Arjun Bijlani was a cricket kid through and through - football barely registered on his radar. Fresh off wrapping Laughter Chefs and gearing up for his next outing in Netflix's Chumbak, the actor admits his football journey didn't begin until fatherhood took him there.

"Football became a big part of my life after my son Ayaan was born," Arjun shares. "He plays regularly and even attends football coaching, so now it's something we enjoy together. It's become our father-son bonding time. We watch the matches together and enjoy supporting our teams."

But shared passion doesn't mean shared loyalties. While Arjun swears by Lionel Messi, Ayaan is firmly in the Cristiano Ronaldo camp - a rivalry that plays out regularly at home. "There's always fun banter at home. He is really passionate about football," Arjun laughs.

With the FIFA World Cup in full swing, Arjun says he's been glued to the action, particularly now that the knockout rounds have begun. "The knockout stage is where the real excitement begins. Argentina, Brazil, Spain and France are among the strongest contenders, but we've already seen some surprising results. That's what makes football so exciting - you can never really predict what's going to happen."

Unpredictability aside, his allegiance hasn't budged an inch. "Being a Messi fan, it's an easy choice - I support Argentina," he says simply.

Turns out, Arjun also has a bit of a ritual he swears isn't a superstition. "Whenever Argentina plays a big match, I make sure to wear my Messi jersey. I'm also quite an expressive viewer - I celebrate every goal and often find myself shouting instructions at the TV as if the players can actually hear me," he laughs.

Late nights and early shoots don't always mix well, but Arjun says sleep is the first casualty during World Cup season. "With the matches stretching late into the night, sleep definitely takes a back seat. If it's a big match, I'm watching it. A strong coffee the next morning gets me through the day."

At the end of it all, football isn't just a sport Arjun watches - it's the thread that ties him closer to his son, one match, one jersey, and one heated Messi-versus-Ronaldo debate at a time.