‘Flying is my absolute passion’

TV host and actor Vishal Malhotra has a hidden secret. “Flying has been my absolute passion,” reveals Vishal, who is acting in Sony’s Kuch Toh Log Kahenge.

TV host and actor Vishal Malhotra has a hidden secret. “Flying has been my absolute passion,” reveals Vishal, who is acting in Sony’s Kuch Toh Log Kahenge. “Since the age of three, I’ve been fascinated by aircraft. I followed my passion and took lessons at a flying club in Toronto, Canada.” To get the private pilot’s license, Vishal had to fly a minimum of 250 hours. “With my acting assignments on TV and business ventures, I haven’t been able to fly for more than 10 hours yet. But whenever I get the opportunity, I go to a flying school to practice.”

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Vishal has flown the Cessna propeller-based aircraft, and his favourite is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. He even went to the Dubai Air Show, where the latest technology and aircraft were on display.

Vishal adds that his hobby isn’t very expensive. He says, “Certain places like Toronto and Florida have more facilities. I have paid Rs 10,000 for an hour, which is reasonable.” But setting up a flight stimulator at his home did cost him a lot. “A flight simulator is a piece of software used by pilots to train and practice. The equipment is expensive to set up, but it’s very useful.”