Recollecting his
experience at the competition, Aggy says, “The manhunt brings out the
confidence in a participant and there is a huge transformation that takes place
on a personal level. I heard about the competition from a friend when I was
working in Bangalore. I weighed 82 kilograms and I was recovering from a
shoulder injury through physiotherapy. I had to send in an audition video based
on which I was shortlisted for the competition in the top 11.”
He further adds,
“More than preparing yourself for one competition, it is about how you have
been keeping yourself fit. It takes a lot of hard work to maintain a lean body,
follow a fixed diet and lifestyle. I used to carry my meal with me if I was
going out for a party. You have to be focused.”
After winning the
title, Aggy also participated in the MTV show ‘Roadies’ where he had to go through
another set of auditions. “Though I had the title in hand, there were many good
looking and fit men in line for the auditions. But it all comes down to being
true to yourself. There were around 3,000 participants who came in for the
auditions who were shortlisted for the group discussion and the next round was
on mental and physical strength. I suffered a ligament tear for my knee for the
show,” says Aggy, who is currently recovering after his knee surgery. Aggy was
also selected for ‘India’s Asli Champion’, a show that tested the physical and
mental endurance of the contestants.
In 2017, Tivim-based model Prathamesh
Maulingkar won title of Mr India Supranatural 2017. The pageant saw 16
contestants from all over the country compete in the finals. Prathamesh will
represent the nation at Mr Supranational 2018 in Poland. Prathamesh was
pursuing a career in football but due to an injury he had to quit his
footballing career, which is when noted designer Wendell Rodricks discovered
his modelling talent. Now, his eye is set on achieving an international title
for the state and country.
This year, Dalton D’Souza from Anjuna
has been selected to participate in the Rubaru Mr India pageant which will be
held in Goa for the first time. Dalton has walked the ramp for fashion
designers like Wendell Rodricks, Arjun Khanna and Nivedita Saboo, among others.
He started pursuing modelling when he was in his final year of BCA at St
Xavier’s College, Mapusa.
“I heard about the competition from a
friend and I researched about the male pageant and found out that it was in its
15th edition so far. I am one among the 27 contestants and the only one from
Goa participating in the competition. An online competition is currently
underway when the audience has to vote for me on the website, the neutral view,
which will help in determining the title of Mr Popular in the competition,”
says Dalton, son of Joseph and Fabiola.
Dalton has completed his MBA from Goa Institute of
Management and is a successful entrepreneur, however, modelling is his first
passion. “Through the pageant, you get to represent India and improve your
skills and gain more confidence and visibility in the fashion industry. Age is
also an important factor when it comes to male pageants with the upper limit
usually being 28 years. It is better to win a title as it helps in future
fashion projects and I am confident about this pageant,” says Dalton, who is at
his training best and looking forward to the sessions at the pageant. The
pageant will be held from March 7 to 10, 2018 in Goa with the grand finale on
March 10.