Bollywood actor Dino Morea is now seen more as a fitness expert than an actor waiting for the release of his next big film. He stresses the virtues of playing all sports and links fitness to education as he vouches for the fact that “physical activities improve memory and concentration”.
Acting has taken a backseat and as a self-appointed ambassador of sports, Dino is travelling, explaining how sports can be beneficial in winning laurels. And he is going one-step further by highlighting how sports eventually lead to cognitive and motor skills development, social and emotional development, discovery of the world, language and literacy.
“Sports and even simple exercises like walking open up the mental faculties. They stimulate the brain. But Indian parents are unaware of the significance of sports. So I share my personal experience with them, telling them after school got over, my parents would instruct me to leave home and play an outdoor sport. I didn’t have access to video games which today’s children fiddle with round the clock. The sad reality is that electronics has taken over today’s kids,” says the actor, who recently launched DM-Tara Fitness Academy at Podar Jumbo Kids Plus- Kindergarten and Daycare, Pitampura.
Having opened a free fitness station in Mumbai nearly two years ago, Dino plans to open one in Delhi. But how does he generate funds?
“I get funds from big industrial houses who donate as part of their corporate social responsibility. I am in Delhi as a fitness enthusiast. My endeavour is to introduce fitness in curriculum. The idea is to make parents understand that they should get their kids to play sports at an early age. Instead of taking selfies with fancy models they need to play, run, get hurt and fight.”
As far as food is concerned, his simple advice is that health freaks need to consume dal, chawal and sabzi . “Indian food is the healthiest. I eat the staple Indian food as well as kachoris and gulab jamuns. But I also burn calories by playing basketball and football. It is not necessary that you go to the gym.”
