Young Vinay Valmiki swaps hockey stick for Akshay Kumar's 'Gold'

Speaking of his role, Vinay Valmiki, 22, said: "I'm a hockey player in the film, and Akshay sir is our team manager, Tapan Das [screen name]."

Mumbai hockey player Vinay Valmiki is nervous these days. Not because he has an important selection or tournament coming up, but because he is about to learn the outcome of his first foray into acting, when the Akshay Kumar-starrer, Gold releases in a fortnight (August 15).

The former Central Railway and Mumbai Customs player took a break from the game to shoot for the movie, which is based on the 1948 Indian hockey team that won its first Olympic gold medal post-independence. Currently, Vinay has returned to playing domestic hockey in Perth, Australia.

Cousin brother and former India striker Yuvraj, who was training some of the actors for the film, got Vinay the role of Kinshuk Bharati, a member of the Indian hockey team. Speaking of his role, Vinay, 22, said: "I'm a hockey player in the film, and Akshay sir is our team manager, Tapan Das [screen name]."

Being around Akshay has been the best part of his filmy journey so far, said Vinay: "Akshay sir is great fun. I used to play thumb fighting with him in between shots — with a one pound bet on it. We also played cricket matches on off days."

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