Chennai native Gokul Ganesan is all set to represent the nation at the upcoming Mr World 2024 pageant. In an exclusive chat, he takes The Pioneer through his pageantry journey, his motivation towards getting into this industry and more tidbits.
Tejal Sinha
After a glamorous event in Mumbai, Gokul Ganesan from Chennai was crowned the winner of the Mr India World 2024 competition. The high-ranking Mr India pageant is a prominent national competition for men that provides contestants with a life-changing chance to display their skills and potentially become India’s global representative. Following a thorough online selection process and subsequent rounds, he was declared the well-deserving champion of Mr India World 2024.
This Chennai native is not only a fashion model but also a dynamic entrepreneur known for his innovative mindset and charming demeanour.
Gokul Ganesan is set to proudly showcase India at the Mr World 2024 grand climax on September 28, 2024, in Phan Thiet, Vietnam. His journey and accomplishments exemplify the essence of Mr. India, highlighting his strength, business skills and dedication to social issues. Rohit Khandelwal made history in 2016 by becoming the first and only Indian and Asian to be crowned Mr. World. Rahul Rajasekharan, a former Mr India champion and actor, will serve as the mentor for the Mr India World 2024 winner, assisting Gokul in his training for his upcoming international opportunity.
In an exclusive interview, The Pioneer interacts with him and he gleefully begins, “I feel ecstatic, honoured, humbled, grateful and hungry all at the same time. Because it’s a surreal feeling. This has been in the making for the past four years. I envisioned myself representing India on an international stage and it has finally happened. This is my golden ticket to go to the world and show them what we’re made of.”
Growing up in a city of ancient temples, vibrant arts, natural wonders and a bustling culinary scene has played a major role in shaping his career choices. As we asked him more about it, he quickly asserted, “This transports me back to my early years spent in Chennai. My childhood was quite fun, frivolous and carefree. But one thing that really, really stuck with me—my learning, if I should say—would be to stay simple and humble. No matter what, your achievements are not hats. You don’t wear them around like accessories. You just focus on what you have to do and keep moving forward.”
Looking back at his journey into the pageantry world, he says it has been nothing short of amazing, with fantastic experiences and a lot of learning. To date, he has been part of three pageants and has managed to be victorious in all three. All of it, he has looked at it as more of a responsibility than an achievement.
“It all started with the love that I have for my country,” shares the fashionista, who initially wanted to join the Indian Army. “I thought serving the nation was the noblest thing a person could do, but due to unavoidable familial reasons, I couldn’t get through it. That’s when I sat down and thought about three things that I’m most passionate about, which are fitness, fashion and my country. When I put all of that together, Mr. India justly aspired to be, and that’s exactly how I got into pageantry.” Things hadn’t really come towards him without any challenges and beyond any doubt, he had his own share of challenges too. To start with, “People couldn’t understand the choices I was making or the risk factors they had. A lot of people from where I come from never even knew that there is an industry as such and the things that can be achieved and perceived in life.”
Over time, he has managed his time well across different fields by getting his priorities right. “I am not a very structured person when it comes to handling work all at the same time because I am more of a ‘take it as it comes’ guy. But I do know how to manage and split work across different things and as for motivation, I believe in discipline because motivation is fluctuating and discipline is consistent,” he shares. “Fitness is like breakfast to me; I don’t see it as an option. It’s a part of my lifestyle, something I need to do every day. It teaches me discipline, hard work, and patience. And, as the famous quote goes, ‘no pain, no gain.’”
As we head towards the end of this chat, also an entrepreneur, Gokul concludes by sharing, “In my opinion, men’s mental health awareness could be much better because, I think, a lot of people don’t know how men feel because they are only celebrated or respected when they provide and otherwise considered losers in society. To break the stigma, I would first suggest people accept their emotional, vulnerable side because that’s where it all begins.”
Well, with all the pressure that has been coming his way, Gokul is keen and mentally prepared to create a niche for the Mr World 2024 pageant.
