ISSUE 01 | JANUARY 2020
BIKERS CLUB ® | MAGAZINE | PAGE 17
B I K E R S C L U B ® | www.bikersclub.in
BC: Riding and especially stunt riding
is an expensive passion and risky too,
but when you started, how did you
manage finances to cater your passion
because you have achieved so much at
this young age. I am sure you must be
very young when you started, and also
for stunts, you require customized
bikes, I suppose?
AH: Basically, I left home to pursue my
dreams and my passion when I was 17
years old. I just tricked my parents into
sending me to Pune since I had an aunt
living in Pune as no one in my family
has ever stepped out of Lucknow. They
were very hesitant to send me
anywhere else. I came to Pune and
started Riding with local guys; they
helped me a lot initially. I used to do
stunt shows on their bike and earn
some money out of that. It was enough
for my survival in Pune, at least. Then
people wanted female rider first in the
show, and I started increasing the
money and shows so that I could
afford my bike and take care of the
maintenance and my other bills. Back
in 2013, stunt bike customization was a
task. I've learned all through hit and
trial methods with the local boys, but
eventually, even they started bullying
me after a while. Mentioned in the
earlier answer and understand how
physically demanding it is for women.
Plus, I was going to college, cooking
my food, going to the gym, riding the
motorcycle. Taking
Care of the maintenance, everything myself.
BC: I must tell you that you are very
courageous because, in India, stunt riding is
still not considered as a career. Also, we have
a lack of awareness and institutions to teach,
but then also you took it up over anything else,
did you ever think about 'Option B' if you
would not have made it?
AH: I never thought of any other option. I was
so focused, and during the process, I became
more confident that yes, this is something for
me. I never had to think about 'Option B'
because I knew I was going to make it, and I
did. It felt like my inner calling, and my heart
only allowed me to do stunts nothing else. I
even dropped out of college, and my parents
told me to stop studying and come back to
Lucknow, and all I could afford was my college
fees then.
appreciate you, but there are others who
will support you. It has been very
physically demanding, and it didn't come
to me easy.
There were times when I have broken
bones, so many muscle injuries, and the
worst one was memory loss too. But it all
made me stronger. I still have both my leg
stitched, one has 13 stitches, and the other
has 20, but it's part of the game. You have
to be ready to face anything thrown away.
And you cannot prove that I am facing this
because I am a female! You decided to be
here, and you cannot complain, but go
through it.
BC: Have you ever come across any other
female riders who also want to take it up
stunt riding as a career? If yes, then what
do you say to them?
BC: What you have to say about a familiar term AH: A lot of women have mentioned this to
amongst the bikers, which is "Bikers
me, but I am in this field for the past six
Brotherhood / Sisterhood?" Do you believe it? years, and I know what it takes to survive.
AH: I don't believe in this bike brotherhood or
It is not easy as our social media profile
sisterhood term because the only thing I think makes it look like, that's why I keep
is humanity.
sharing my downfalls, my low phases, the
struggles of my life so that I keep giving
BC: Being a female stunt rider, what kind of
people reality of my life and not just the
challenges you face?
happy moments. To begin with, I ask them
AH: I think it would be appropriate if I mention just to get a bike, gears and start riding,
that it is only full of challenges. But not just
think about the career later, first become
being a woman in this field but being a stunt
best at what you are doing, and the career
rider athlete itself. There are pros and cons of
path will be taken care itself if you are
being a female stunt rider in a country like
good at what you are doing.
India. Because there are people who won't