Covid: Due to lack of work, Sachin Tendulkar’s lookalike back at village in Punjab

Deepkamal Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, June 24

Having spent 20 years in Mumbai entertaining people because of his resemblance with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Balvir Chand has been forced to return to his native place because of Covid-19.

After having worked in films, commercials and as a brand ambassador for a food chain, Chand is back at Sahlon village here after he lost his job four months back owing to the lockdown. “My elder son too lost his job. My younger son, who is a choreographer, was not getting any assignments. Locked up in one room for five months, we had nothing to do. With no work, I was not even able to pay the rent. As the trains started, we decided to come back to our village and spend some time with my brother and nephews,” Chand said, adding that the family, including his wife and daughter, all started the journey homewards on June 10.

But fate had other ideas. “Coming on the Paschim Express and landing in Ludhiana, we were tested for coronavirus. Since none of us had any symptoms and we had taken precautions carrying our own food, water, masks and sanitisers, we were confident that we woud not be infected. But after being in home quarantine for three days, we got to know that our reports came positive,” said Chand.

He added that an ambulance took them to Guru Nanak Mission Hospital at Dhahan Kaleran from where they have now returned home but will remain in quarantine till July 2.

Chand said that a young patient in the hospital asked an attendant how come Tendulkar was also there. Chand then kept the patients busy with tales from Mumbai.

“Son of a labourer, I was just matriculate and working as a ward boy at DMC Hospital in Ludhiana since 1992. I got married and had children. Then people began telling me that I resembled Tendulkar. I began copying him. The Hero group in Ludhiana offered me a chance to work in a commercial. I accepted it and in lieu of the same they offered me a trip to England during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. There, Sunil Gavaskar called me in the commentary box and there was a buzz in the media with stories about a second Tendulkar. I stayed in England for three and a half months and enjoyed my popularity as people used to take my autographs and click my photos. By the time I came back, I got to know that I had lost my job in DMC due to absentia. That was the time when I told my family that I wanted to go to Mumbai and reap the benefits of my looks,” Chand said.

“I even accepted invitations to attend marriage functions as Tendulkar’s lookalike. I have worked in advertisements of Fevistick and Volkswagen. I have met him 24 times. My first meeting was very interesting. I told him to sign some photographs, which he did thinking that these were his. I had to tell him that it’s me and not him. Later, he called me to a hotel for a meeting. Because of my looks, I also got a chance to work in films. I have written 16 songs on him. When he retired, I too thought that I now needed to stick to one job. But sadly, I lost it due to Covid.”

Asked if he intended to work in Punjab, he said, “I will definitely go back. If I remain here, I will only get petty jobs because of no qualification. I do not want to live in penury all over again. Surprisingly, one of my sons resembles Sachin’s son. We shared their pictures on phone. My sons too are growing and have better opportunities in Mumbai. So, I may go back with them after two months and look for jobs again. Other family members can join later.”