Meera.Vohra@timesgroup.com Celebrity couple, wrestler Sangram Singh and actress Payal Rohtagi, who made an impromptu visit to Kumbh Mela, are not regretting their decision. Payal, reveals that Sangram had some work in Lucknow, so she suggested that the couple visits Prayagraj too. “I said, why don’t we go to Prayagraj for the Kumbh as I had heard so much about it. When we reached the city, the roads were overflowing with people. There was a slight traffic hitch but that was insignificant as I was looking forward to a dip at Sangam. I had been to Haridwar earlier but this is my first time at Sangam. Kumbh Mela is the best way to get an insight of our culture. I might be an actor professionally, but as a person I should know what our rituals, religion or our history is. Kumbh Mela really helps you in this. It’s been an ethereal experience,” says the ' Rakht ' actor Payal Rohatgi praying at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj (BCCL/ Pankaj Singh)While Sangram Singh, winner of Commonwealth Heavyweight Wrestling Championship, says, “The moment I shared my Kumbh Mela picture, I got at least 250 requests from my friends and acquaintances for unke naam ki dubki. I told them in lighter vein that I will catch pneumonia if I take so many dips in the river.”Sangram adds, “On a serious note, I was reminded of my village on reaching the mela, Haryana (my home state) aur UP waise bhi aas paas hain, toh ek jaise hi lagte hain. I saw a lot of people, some of them barefooted, from rural milieu, with bags on their head, walking in the mela area. As a child I used to walk for nearly 20 kms to school, barefooted as I did not possess a pair of shoes, though now a lot of changes are happening in both these states.”The snaan at Sangam was also an ethereal experience for them. “It started raining when we reached for the dip which I feel was a kind of a blessing. On our way, on the boat, we saw a lot of migratory birds and even fed them. Though the water was really cold, both of us took more than seven dips,” shares Sangram.Payal was also quite taken in by the ambience at the mela. “With so many people present, with a common faith, the aura of the place was very positive. In total it was a great experience," she says.Sangram, a contestant of reality show ' Bigg Boss 7 ', at the same time also believes in the mantra of, ‘man changa toh kathoti mein Ganga’ (if our soul is pure then we can be blessed even if we take bath anywhere else). The celebrity couple have adopted more than 150 school children through a foundation that looks after the basic needs of underprivileged children, including their education. “We also support deprived children if they have aspirations in sports. Some time back we had organized a wrestling event for budding wrestlers in Delhi in the memory of KD Jhadav, the first Indian wrestler to win a medal at Olympics. In this we had also honoured the past legends as well. We want to be a medium to bring about change in others’ lives,” he says.Sangram Singh at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj (BCCL/ Pankaj Singh)Though there was a lot of buzz about the couple getting married in November last year, things did not work out as they had planned. “My father was detected with prostate cancer. I was in a different frame of mind. We had to figure out the line of treatment for him, which was quite stressful. Even now he is hospitalized,” says Payal, giving the reason for the delay in their wedding. With no plans for them right now to get married, Sangram says, “When we do, we will prefer a private ceremony, followed by a reception.”On the work front Sangram will soon be seen in the Shyam Benegal directed biopic on wrestler KD Jhadav. “I have lost 20kgs weight for the role. The shooting of the film will begin sometime in March. I am also playing a hockey player for an untitled film of a known production house. The film will soon go on the floors,” he says.While Payal, who prefers to work independently, says, “Both of us don’t want to work in each other’s shadow. Currently I am working on aPunjabi film, for which we will begin shooting in May.”— Meera.Vohra@timesgroup.com

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