River rafting in Rishikesh was one adventure that Sidharth Malhotra had experienced before he took the plunge for a SkyWalk, a deep sea dive, a skydive and more in New Zealand last year. Now geared up for yet another trip to the picturesque country next month, the actor says he was fearless about taking the risks because of the safety norms and professionals who are involved in it.
As the Indian ambassador of Tourism New Zealand, the Bollywood star had made his maiden debut to the country last year and indulged in myriad adventure activities. Now on his second trip, on which he will embark on next month, he hopes to explore more.
“I have grown up in Delhi, and for us, adventure meant going to Rishikesh. There weren’t much adventure options. When I went to New Zealand, I jumped off a plane 15,000 ft in the air. It offers a great view and their safety norms are very much in place. My skydive was with a person who had an experience of 30,000 dives. So, I felt safe with professionals,” Sidharth said at an event here on Thursday.
Was he afraid’
“Well, the fear was never about safety there. The only thing I wasn’t too sure of was the Skywalk as I didn’t know what it would be like. I still knew what the skydive was about. But walking on the edge of the SkyTower in Auckland was interesting,” he said and added that the variety of adventures that the country offers is something one will “sadly” not get to experience in India.
He said he found it fascinating how within an hour or so, a person can go from being on a glacier to underwater diving.
The adventures apart, the “Baar Baar Dekho” actor recounted his culinary experiences in New Zealand, and said he was particularly impressed by an oyster farm which was located below a property that he stayed in.
Sidharth shared the dais at the event on Thursday with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.
