Meet 2015 Mr India first runner-up

Bengaluru boy Rahul Rajasekharan is on top of the world right now, having been adjudged the first runner-up at the recent Mr India 2015 contest. An elated Rahul says, “There were over 10,000 applicants from across India. So to be in the top 15 and finally make it to the top three on the biggest platform for men — the feeling hasn’t sunk in yet.” At present, the fitness freak, who lists Amitabh Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit-Nene as his favourite actors in Bollywood, is concentrating on learning Hindi, and attending theatre and dance classes.We caught up with Rahul at his Indiranagar residence recently and followed him as he went about his daily chores.
Cook healthy Rahul is very strict when it comes to his diet and loves to do his own grocery shopping and cook his own food — which is mostly salads or grilled or tossed veggies and meat. If ever he has something, he compensates by immediately chewing on raw bitter gourd to keep his sugar levels in check. “His food is very different from what the rest of the family eats. Sometimes, he ditches salt for months. I am now more adept at knowing how to cook gym food rather than normal food. The only thing is it shouldn’t be delicious,” says his mother Saroja Rajasekharan, gently chiding her Mr India son. However, the model loves dark chocolate.
A complete gym fiend Rahul was a chubby kid and weighed 90 kg at one point. “I was a state-level basketball player and was a big eater. I continued to be a big eater even after I stopped playing the sport. In the process, I put on weight. After that, the transformation happened overnight,” says the first runner-up. He adds that he never misses a workout no matter what — be it travel, assignment, dinners or contests. “I love to run too. Evenings are solely reserved for my workouts,” he says. Rahul’s other hobbies include photography and mountain biking.
Bicycle’s his best friend He loves to cycle and explore places on his bike. “He looks like a terrorist when he is out cycling. He wears a mask and head band, and covers his full face to avoid sun burns,” says his mother.
The bachelor knows his business The boy from Indiranagar High School and Christ University has a bachelors in business management. “I was an associate with a company for three years, before I quit to travel and pursue modelling more seriously,” he says. “I am so happy that my son has made it to this level all by myself. No one from our entire family is in this profession,” says his mother, adding that she wants to see her son work in all the movie industries of India.
The hunk loves stunt biking Rahul is also fond of stunt biking, which he actively pursued for three years. “I left after I realized it is too much of a risk to take at too little pay,” he says. His mother adds, “We were more scared of others than him when he would do wheeling. Good he doesn’t want to pursue it anymore.”