Canadian businessman Nav Bhatia has become quite a fixture in the games of the Toronto Raptors that he has earned the nickname “Raptors Superfan” over the years. Bhatia is so into the Raptors that he’s been attending the team’s home match-ups since its inaugural season of 1995-96.
And now, a new documentary about his life will be aired on December 3 at 9 pm ET on CBC. Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story details Bhatia’s journey from being a simple Hyundai dealership owner to one of the most famous Raptors’ home court faces.
CBC describes the documentary as an “intimate portrait of a man with a very public persona.” The film allows the public to have a peek at how Bhatia, a mechanical engineer by profession, fled Delhi, India, in 1984 to escape the anti-Sikh riots and how he eventually became one of Canada’s top car salesmen.
Comedian Russell Peters shared that Bhatia has earned the nickname “Raptors Superfan” because he’s done a lot of great things others could easily relate to.”
“The things he’s done are so real. They’re so tangible for so many people,” Peters related. “Growing up, we didn’t have anybody to look at.” He added that Bhatia “became the person that we could identify with.”
Apart from interviews with various Toronto sports icons like Argonauts GM Pinball Clemons, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, and former Raptor Vince Carter, the documentary also features discussions with acclaimed sportscasters like TSN anchor Kayla Grey.
Former Raptors GM and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas pointed out that Bhatia’s contribution to the sport is utterly outstanding. “He’s been just as important as any player the Toronto Raptors has ever had,” Thomas said.
