Vishnu Raj Menon, who won Mr India 2016,
is all set to represent India at the Mr World
pageant slated to take place next month.
He talks about the title, fitness routine, and
bringing about a changeM
r India 2016,
Vishnu Raj
Menon,
is looking
forward to representing the
country on an international
platform. After all, not
many get the chance.
The humble Kerala lad is
leaving no stone unturned
to stand out at the
Mr World pageant slated
to be held at Manilla,
Philippines. Over to him.Tell us a little about
your childhood. Did
you always want to
be a model?
My childhood was playful.
I grew up in a village in
Kerala with ample chances
to observe wildlife, which
taught me how to love
and respect animals.
I was studious; however,
that didn’t mean I didn’t
participate in extra-
curricular activities. I was
athletic and excelled in
100m and 400m sprints.What’s the one advice
you will never forget?
When I was younger, my
mother sang a Malayalam
song to me, the lyrics of
which meant that wherever
you are and whatever roles
you play in your life, never
forget your roots, and
always be humble.REALITY interview
“I’m preparing mentally, physically,
and emotionally for the Mr World
pageant. I don’t want to leave any
stone unturned, and give it my all.”How are you preparing
for Mr World pageant?
I’m preparing mentally,
physically, and emotionally
for the pageant. I don’t
want to leave any stone
unturned, and give it my
all while representing my
country on an international
platform. I recognise
my weaknesses, and
I am working on them
aggressively.How do you think
pageants in India have
evolved over time?
Earlier, a lot of attention
was given to pageants for
women. Mr India came
into limelight when Rohit
Khandelwal became the
first Indian/Asian to win
the title in 2016. Also,
youngsters have realised
that these platforms not
only aid one’s career, but
also enable an individual
to give back to society by
getting the opportunity to
work with various national
and international causes.What’s your fitness
routine like?
I start and end my day with
30 push-ups and 30 squats.
At 6 am, I go to the gym
to do cardio. I follow this
with weight training in the
evening. During the day,
I read for an hour because,I believe, mental health is
as important as physical
well-being. As for the
diet, my mantra is: drink
vegetables, eat fruits.The one person you
look up to the most?
APJ Abdul Kalam because
I truly believe in his
words—“Dream is not
that which you see while
sleeping, it is something
that does not let you sleep.”What’s the one change
you would want tobring about in
the country?
It breaks my heart to
see people begging on
the streets. I would love
to provide them with
job opportunities and
especially help the elderly
with shelter as they are too
old to work on their own.Do you harbour
dreams of venturing
into movies?
Yes, of course. If given the
opportunity, I would love to
be part of great scripts.GEARING UP