In country where sporting heroes are hard to come by, body builder and former Indian Air Force soldier Rajendran Mani is an exception. Mani has won a clutch of championships, bagging the Mr. India and Mr. World titles a couple of times in the last few years. In the city for the launch of the Slam Fitness studio, He says, “ Body building and fitness was largely ignored in India. It is only in the last few years that a fitness revolution has taken over urban India. There are gyms and fitness centres opening up across the country. People want to look good and that has resulted in recognition for body building. It is seen as an stepping stone to looking smart. In the film industry, fitness levels are as important as your acting skills.”
For aspiring bodybuilding enthusiasts, he has a word of caution,
“It is not an easy life. We need to spend money on our diet, which includes vitamin and food supplements. You cannot eat junk and need to avoid fried items as well. It is important to lead a disciplined life. However, it’s always satisfying to lead a healthy lifestyle.”
The Chennai-based bodybuilder says, “Fitness has become important. When we were growing up, there was no place that offered specialised training. We trained used by running in open spaces. That has changed now. Every city has a multitude of gyms, offering specialised training regimens. I hope this trend continues and inspires more people to take fitness seriously.”
Talking about his personal fitness regimen, Mani says, “I workout at a gym for almost six hours everyday. I take six meals a day, full of proteins and vitamins. I try to maintain a proper schedule.”
Mani contends, “I feel that my success in international competitions is proof that one does not need to be a European or American to become a world champion. Indian food is a little heavy and rich. If you mound your diet accordingly, there is nothing that is can stop Indians from aspiring for the top spot in such events.”
