India, June 23 -- As football fever grips fans across the globe with the FIFA World Cup in full swing, actor and avid football enthusiast Aparshakti Khurana reveals his deep passion and enthusiasm for the sport. "Despite my hectic professional commitments, just the adrenaline that football carries keeps bringing me back to it," he shares, adding that the sport is his "biggest stress buster". With excitement building for the ongoing World Cup, the 38-year-old shares his match-day ritual: "I try to keep my day easy at work so I'm fresh enough to watch the match... you need a lot of energy as a fan too." Aparshakti also adds how it fascinates him to witness the standard of football on display. He says, "The quality of football has gone up so much in the past few years - the fitness, the competition and the intensity." While among Indian footballers, the actor reserves a special admiration for former player Sunil Chhetri and calls him a "legend", on the global stage, Argentina's Lionel Messi remains his favourite. "He's inspired generations while remaining grounded, and his journey reflects what football is all about - passion, perseverance and teamwork," he says. While the actor feels Indian football is progressing positively, he stresses the importance of investing in grassroots development: "More investment in youth academies and football infrastructure would help. Consistent success from the national team and stronger domestic leagues can inspire a larger fan base and create a long-term football culture." Having played several matches for All Stars FC, a celebrity football team dedicated to raising money for charity, Aparshakti is quick to name actor Tiger Shroff as the best footballer in the team. "His fitness is unmatchable." Comparing football dressing rooms with film sets, Aparshakti adds, "Even though I haven't played football at the highest level, I know one thing for sure - no film set can compare to a locker room or a sports field. That's where we find the real heroes. We make only films on them."...