Superfan Nav Bhatia becomes celebrity after Raptors victory

Superfan Nav Bhatia is mobbed in parking lots for selfies as Tim Hortons does an ad on him and offers pour in for films on his life

By Gurmukh Singh

TORONTO: The Raptors’ maiden victory in the NBA Championship has turned their Superfan Nav Bhatia into a celebrity!

Raptors’ fans waved huge cutouts of him at Jurassic Park while watching Game 5 of the NBA finals on June 10. 

East Toronto artist Ara Mamourian, who along with Matt Durant created eight giant cutouts of Superfan Nav Bhatia, was quoted as saying, “We see Drake heads and coach Nick Nurse heads, but nobody has a Nav head and I thought that was the hugest oversight ever.’’

Superfan Nav Bhatia says he is overwhelmed by people’s love for him.

“I haven’t slept properly ever since the victory and done over 150 interviews for television, radio and newspaper networks from Canada, the US, China, the Philippines, India, Europe and around the world,’’ says Nav Bhatia.

The Superfan, who was cheering his team from the forefront in the arena when they beat two-time champions Golden State Warriors of San Francisco, says, “Oh man, I still cannot believe that the Raptors are the champions. The reality has not sunk in yet.’’

The Raptors also gave their Superfan the rare honour of being Honorary Parade Marshall at their victory celebrations in Toronto.

“With a record 2.5 million people converging on Phillips Nathan Square to celebrate the victory, it was the biggest crowd in Canada’s history. And it was the biggest moment of my life. People were singing: Singh is King,’’ says Bhatia who is the top Hyundai dealer in Canada.

He is now being mobbed by fans wherever he goes. 

“In the parking lots, people surround me to pose for selfies. Schools are inviting me to lecture to students…I am just back from John Mackenzie School in Vaughan.’’

Canada’s biggest fast food chain Tim Hortons has also roped in Bhatia for an ad. And offers are pouring in from big brands to do films and documentaries on him. 

For a man who was denied jobs because of his turban when he landed as an immigrant in Canada in 1984, Bhatia’s newly acquired celebrity status is a sort of sweet revenge!  

“I was an engineering graduate, but I was turned down wherever I applied for a job. After four months of job-hunting when I joined a Hyundai dealership as a salesman, I was taunted for my turban. They called me all sorts of names. But I sold 127 cars in the first three months to prove myself,’’ says Bhatia, shaking his head.

With hard work, Bhatia went on to buy his own Hyundai dealership the 1990s, then take over the one where he once faced racial taunts and become the biggest Hyundai dealer in Canada.

How did his fascination for basketball begin?

“As a new immigrant in Toronto in the 1980s, I used to watch NBA matches on TV at home. In 1995, when the Raptors came to Toronto, I bought two tickets for the first game.’’

He says he was hooked on basketball.

“I started going to all Raptors matches and I used to make a lot of noise while cheering for the Raptors. Seeing my zeal, the then Toronto Raptors GM and vice-president called me one day. He said: `You are the first to come and the last to leave the arena. Because of your devotion, we are designating you as the Superfan of the Raptors.’ That was in 1998-99. I was given jersey number 1.’’ 

But today Bhatia wears jersey No. 95.  “Because 1995 was the year the Raptors came to Toronto and I have not missed a single game since then! I am just crazy about this sport.’’

Bhatia’s turbaned appearance and clean habits have only magnified his appeal as the Superfan of the Raptors.

“I say in interviews: `I don’t smoke, I don’t womanize, I only Raptorize’. My words appeal to lots of people! That’s why schools are inviting me to talk to kids.’’ 

Bhatia says, “Being a turbaned Sikh, I am very happy that people now know who Sikhs are.’’ 

He says his mission is to popularize basketball among South Asian kids.

“I celebrate each Vaisakhi with Sikh kids playing basketball on the same Scotia Arena where the Raptors play. We are also building four basketball courts in Malton for these kids.’’ 

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