I’ve grown up with Bollywood, and I continue to enjoy it. But boxing remains my passion.

An incident that left an impression on me was the 1999 sub-junior national boxing championship held in Calcutta. I had trained extremely hard to get there but got kicked out in the first round itself. ‘If others can win, why can’t you?’ I repeatedly asked myself.

I have a carbohydrate and protein-rich diet. For breakfast, I typically have two slices of bread with butter or jam, four to five eggs – boiled or fried – a few bananas and a glass of milk.

I eat healthy and don’t go by a diet chart. The breakfast is usually heavy, complemented with short frequent meals. My dinner is high on proteins and low on carbohydrates.

I know my Beijing medal has been a watershed moment in the history of Indian boxing, but personally speaking, I would like to better it in London.

I’m a big fan of the ‘Rocky’ series. Given the chance, I’d love to meet Sylvester Stallone. But apart from boxing, I’m an ardent fan of tennis and football.

I don’t watch cricket much but I admire Sachin Tendulkar. I like the way he has conducted himself over the years. He has been such a huge star for so long but has not had a single controversy against his name.

I always try to see the good in everything, and that gives me strength. Even when I lost in the London Olympics quarterfinals, I said to myself, ‘Don’t lose heart, God has his own plans.’ Actually, life just goes on; you have to accept whatever challenge you face and become stronger.

When I walk for a designer, I walk the ramp as Vijender Singh, the boxer. I believe that by doing so, boxing will at least, in some way, get promoted in our entertainment industry. Plus, if cricketers can, why can’t I?

I want to compete in the next Olympics. If I go to Rio, it will be my third time, which is a rare feat for an Indian athlete. For me, Olympics is important because it’s the biggest event on earth for a sports person. I hope this time around I come back with a medal.