Tennis star Sania Mirza has praised actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal for their pickleball skills, calling them the best players to have appeared on her show Serving It Up with Sania across its seasons.
The couple featured in the opening episode of the podcast’s second season, joining Sania for a game of pickleball before discussing their relationship, marriage and experience of working together.
Impressed by their performance on the court, Sania told the couple, “You guys were the best pickleball players we’ve had now for all the seasons that we’ve had.”
The conversation also explored their seven-year relationship, their first conversation that lasted five-and-a-half hours and how they balance their personal and professional lives as a married couple.
Speaking about sharing screen space with her husband, Sonakshi said romantic scenes became easier because of the comfort of having her partner around.
“For me, romancing on screen is the toughest thing ever. So when it’s with your own husband, then it’s fine. It just eases you out when you have your person around you. But of course, when we are at work, it’s time to work,” she said.
Sonakshi also spoke about her approach to travel, explaining that years of travelling extensively for work had left her wanting a break from work-related trips.
Meanwhile, Sania reflected on her evolution as a podcaster, saying she had grown to enjoy conversations that allow her to understand guests beyond their public personas.
The response to the first season encouraged her to return with another instalment, she said, describing podcasting as a new innings after years of competing on the tennis court.
The first episode of Season 2 of Serving It Up with Sania, featuring Sonakshi and Zaheer, is available on the show’s YouTube channel.