When Sachin sneaked into the Falaknuma Palace

Cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar had always expressed his appetite for the Hyderabadi Biryani whenever he stepped foot in the city of Nawabs. But what many did not know is that Tendulkar Sachin cherishes the Pearl City for something as ‘monumental’ as the biryani… the Falaknuma Palace.

Disclosing his tryst with the Nawabi residence at the launch of Smaaash, an urban sports centre before a packed audience comprising of enthusiastic youngsters at Inorbit Mall here on Tuesday, Sachin said, “I always make it a point to have biryani when I come to Hyderabad. (VVS) Laxman and (Ambati) Rayudu ensure that they treat the entire Indian team with the mouth-watering dish. But many of my friends always kept discussing about how the Falaknuma Palace is a must-see.

So once (in 2012), I secretly came down with my family and stayed at the palace for two days. I can never forget that feeling.” During the interactive session, when the bating maestro was quizzed on the tactic to confront his Mumbai Indians teammate and Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, he went by the logic, “Ball ko dekho, uske baal nahi.” A massive crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of the celebrated icon. He made it their day when he captured a selfie with them.

By:P Krishnamurthy