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All in the family for World Cup fan Vishaal, who is taking parents to dream destination in Russia

SINGAPORE — Her love for Indian movie star Raj Kapoor, and Bollywood film Awaara, was what sparked off a lifelong fascination with Russia for Madam Nelam Lata, 63.

Mr Vishaal Bhardwaj (far right) has been to three World Cups and will be travelling to Russia to watch his fourth, this time with his parents and relatives. (From left) Mr Vishaal's uncle Rakesh Bhardwaj, 60; his father Pushpinder Mohan Bhardwaj, 66; and his mother Nelam Lata, 63.

Mr Vishaal Bhardwaj (far right) has been to three World Cups and will be travelling to Russia to watch his fourth, this time with his parents and relatives. (From left) Mr Vishaal's uncle Rakesh Bhardwaj, 60; his father Pushpinder Mohan Bhardwaj, 66; and his mother Nelam Lata, 63.

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SINGAPORE — Her love for Indian movie star Raj Kapoor, and Bollywood film Awaara, was what sparked off a lifelong fascination with Russia for Madam Nelam Lata, 63.

The 1951 movie which starred Kapoor and actress Nargis became an overnight sensation in South Asia, before it found unexpected success in the Soviet Union and other countries. It was even nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.

As a young girl, Madam Nelam fell in love with the movie about a vagabond played by Kapoor, and subsequently the country that lapped up Awaara and gave its leading actor an award.

While she has never visited Russia, Madam Nelam will get to visit her dream destination this month when she travels there for the 2018 Fifa World Cup with her husband — who is also a fan of the movie — son, and extended family.

She is no football fan, but the childcare teacher jumped at the opportunity to visit Russia.

She also wanted to see what the fuss over the World Cup was about, after seeing her son, Mr Vishaal Bhardwaj, travel to three tournaments in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil from 2006 to 2014.

She told TODAY: "I just want to see what is so exciting, what makes my son so happy to go to these games. Everybody is talking about it, so it must be something great."

Aside from four members of the family, seven of Mr Vishaal's close friends will also join them in Moscow and Saint Petersburg for the June 14 to July 15 tournament.

The 12-strong group is set to fly into Moscow on June 12, and they will catch the Germany vs Mexico fixture on June 17. Mr Vishaal and his friends plan to watch five other group matches while the others will tour the country before returning home on June 22.

Mr Vishaal's father, 66-year-old Pushpinder Mohan Bhardwaj, confessed that he does not know much about football. He cannot name any of the players from defending champions Germany, he admitted.

"One of my son's friends said to me, 'Uncle, since you're going there, at least watch one match. The excitement is different.' So we booked the tickets," said the businessman.

Nevertheless, Mr Pushpinder and his wife will don Germany's Die Mannschaft jerseys and "scream along with everyone", he added with a hearty laugh.

For Mr Vishaal, 40, this year's World Cup is special as his travel group has grown, and he is taking his family for the first time.

The school teacher first travelled to the 2006 edition in Germany with his best friend. They were inspired to start their own World Cup tradition after meeting two British football fans on the train then.

"They told us that they have attended every single World Cup together since 1966 (the first and only time England won the World Cup). We were inspired by them," he told TODAY.

The die-hard Arsenal fan, who is making his fourth trip to the tournament, is also looking forward to joining the fan festivals in Russia.

His last experience in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was unforgettable, as he spent nights watching football and partying on Copacabana beach with the locals.

He added: "It's more the ambience and energy level, where you have thousands of fans drinking, topless, singing away, and watching the games. There are a lot more restrictions in the stadium."

The trip to Russia will cost each person about S$7,000, including flights, accommodation, match tickets and personal expenses. They each saved about S$800 by booking their flights early in September last year, and the group managed to secure hotel rooms in Moscow and Saint Petersburg for about S$150 a day.

Each match ticket costs between US$150 (S$200) and US$250 (S$333), with the opening match — Russia v Saudi Arabia — commanding the highest premium: US$390 (S$520).

Even so, that pales in comparison to what Mr Vishaal forked out for a game during the 2014 World Cup, a staggering US$1,000 (S$1,333) "just to watch Argentina play".

As Italy and Holland, his two favourite teams, did not manage to qualify for this year's World Cup, he will be rooting for Argentina, the runners-up in 2014, this time.

"I hope Lionel Messi finally wins it," he said. He also wants to catch Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah of Liverpool — who won Player of the Year in the English Premier League — in action against Russia on June 20.

While he is happy to soak in the football fever in Russia, Mr Vishaal is also concerned about security. He had witnessed football hooliganism firsthand at the 2016 UEFA European Championship match between Russia and England in Marseille, France.

"The Russians were all over the English," he said. "I knew then that it wouldn't be too safe for the English to go to Russia for the World Cup. So I advised my friends and family not to wear any sort of English representation — club or England jersey."

But these concerns will not dampen his mood, and Mr Vishaal is even contemplating taking his wife and two young sons, who are five and 10 years old, to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

"That will be a logistical nightmare!" he exclaimed.

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