The packed venue of the press conference announcing the launch of the fourth edition of Pinkathon in Delhi this September had more women than men. What was amazing was to hear a good number of them, who had come to see master of ceremony Milind Soman, declare their intention to participate in India’s biggest all-women running event. That is how persuasive this attractive model-actor-runner, who can still make heads turn, is.
Tell this to Milind, and he feigns surprise. “Do they still find me attractive and persuasive?” Acknowledging that he has been accustomed to attention since the age of 16, it does not impinge his consciousness now. He feels good when people appreciate him and his work. Gracefully accepting their compliments, he treats it like an indulgence.
Continuing in the same vein, I ask if it is his sex appeal or charisma? “Neither. It has nothing to do with my body or what I look any more. It goes beyond that. It is the confidence and comfort I exude at being what I am and my belief in self.” He points to the T-shirt and the track pants he is sporting for the conference. “Many found this surprising. They expect me to be formally dressed and groomed,” he exclaims, rolling his eyes. This is but half the truth. It goes beyond looks and fame as is evident from the impeccable manner in which he holds the show coordinating with the partners of Pinkathon to speak about their association while taking the audience along. Everyone on the dais had a story to share with Milind in it.
Pinkathon is close to Milind as a space where women get together to celebrate health and the way they want to lead their lives. “Running is just symbolic. The objective is make them realise the importance and value of their body and health, inspiring them to take time out for it. I believe the first step to empowerment is taking take charge of your health. What follows this is boosting of confidence and self-belief .” In fact, he suggests taking any activity – yoga, zumba or cycling – to be fit. “It is a decision and discipline which each must explore and arrive at rather than thinking ‘Milind Soman runs, so must I’. No. Do what you like to stay healthy and fit.”
Over the editions, Pinkathon has gone from strength to strength. The first edition in Mumbai saw 230 participants in the 10 km race and three years hence it has reached 1000. It has been equally matched by the support the families of these women have been extending to them. “This change in mind-set is of prime importance in a patriarchal world of ours,” attests Milind. He cites the UK where too women tend to ignore their health feeling guilty of stealing time away from their family responsibilities. “There is a need to get over this.”
A notable feature of this running event has been its inclusiveness, motivating cancer survivors and visually impaired women to join. Coinciding with the Mother’s Day, the Chennai programme included women from an old age home. “You’ll be surprised they took part in the three and five kilometre events. Their joy and enthusiasm was infectious,” recalls Milind. For the Delhi leg efforts are on to rope in acid attack victims. Having suffered unimaginable trauma, their effort to live a normal life needs to be recognised and is inspiring, he feels.
Milind fits the role of the ambassador perfectly as he has devoted 13 years to swimming at the national level. He switched to running at 37, a sign that it is never too late. It is not a physical exercise for him rather a meditation space, a converging point of energies. “It has improved my patience and confidence. I now view things, relationships, situations and world at large in perspective.”
Having won the Ironman, he is all set to attempt the gruelling Ultraman. This three-day triathlon includes swimming 10 km and cycling 140 km followed by 275 km cycling the next day and finally running 84 km on the last. All activities everyday have to be done in less than 12 hours. “For me after Ironman it had to be something bigger and tougher. I like challenging myself physically and mentally.” He is also scheduled to lead the winners of Pinkathon in Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai in the Pataya marathon.
Busy, as he is literally running the world over and managing his event management work, Milind still manages to make his presence felt on the screen. Two outings in 2015 –– Bajirao Mastani and Marathi film Nagrik –– definitely got noticed. On why we do not see him more often on screen, he says, “I can’t take it up full time as I can’t sacrifice variety and do not want to be stereotyped. I accept roles which are challenging and surprise me, inducing hard work and thinking. Such opportunities are few and far between but when they come I grab them.” Sensing a perceptible change in filmmaking with finer nuances being ingrained in scripting and storytelling, he believes there could be more chances for him to get surprised. Asking him to clarify what does surprise entail? he shoots back, “an offer to essay a woman’s character, considering that I am perceived as very macho.”
Towards the end of the interaction, when a fan elbows in with an observation that how lucky he is to have tried so many things successfully , Milind disagrees, “Fate has played a role to a certain extent –– by providing opportunities but that it does to everyone. The essence is to seize them and make them count.” Signing off to eat the specially prepared khichdi, he quotes the Bard, “There is a tide in the affairs of men…”
