Netflix’s new show, The Royals has held the attention of the audience with its depiction of a royal Indian family and their ego clashes, politics and secrets brushed under the rug. The visual aesthetics of the show, along with the steamy chemistry of the lead actors, Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, has hooked the viewers. The star cast also included Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Milind Soman and more.
Milind Soman, who played the role of ‘Maharaj Yuvanath Singh’ in The Royals, gave a convincing performance, whose character has a very pivotal part in the story. However, the actor is popular among the masses not only for his acting prowess, but more so for pushing boundaries in his personal life. From being a record-holding marathoner to modelling nude for a photoshoot, Milind Soman’s career has defied norms and stirred conversations.
Milind Soman was born in Scotland, was later enrolled in the RSS
Milind Soman was born in Scotland and lived there with his family until the age of seven. After moving back to Mumbai, his father enrolled him in a shakha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), when he was around ten years old. In his memoir, Made In India, the actor talked about his days at the shakha. Milind wrote that from what he remembers, they would mostly march around the ground, do some yoga and exercises and recite Sanskrit verses that they did not know the meaning of. Talking about why he was enrolled in the RSS shakha, the actor wrote:
“Baba was a great believer in the benefits that would accrue to a young boy, in terms of disciplined living, physical fitness and right thinking, from being part of the junior cadres of the RSS”.
Milind Soman went viral overnight with his look in the music video Made In India
Milind Soman named his memoir Made In India as a tribute to the music video, released in 1995, with the same name that made him a household name. Famous pop singer, Alisha Chinai featured in the music video herself and later revealed in an interview with the Indian Express that she had specifically told the director of the video that she wanted Milind Soman. With the music video becoming popular all over the country, Milind came to represent peak Indian male beauty.
Milind Soman sparked controversies with a nude photoshoot with his then-girlfriend, Madhu Sapre
Both the supermodels, Madhu Sapre and Milind Soman used to date back in the 90s and made for a very good-looking couple. During this time, the couple got embroiled in many controversies because of a bold photoshoot. The photo featured Milind and Madhu posing without any clothes, only wearing shoes and draped with a real-life python. It was a print ad for Tuff shoes in 1995. The social branch of Mumbai police filed a case against the models and everyone else involved with the magazine. Meanwhile, another case was filed against all of them for illegal use of the python, under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The case went on for fourteen years, and ended with all the accused acquitted of the charges. In 2020, when the controversial photoshoot completed its 25th anniversary, Milind Soman posted it on his social media and asked netizens what the reaction would have been if it had been released in recent times. Many people commented that it would have caused a stir even now.
Milind Soman’s marriage with Ankita Konwar came under scrutiny for their 26 year age gap
Milind Soman tied the knot with his girlfriend and air hostess, Ankita Konwar, in 2018. The actor was 53 years old at the time, while his wife was 26. This huge age gap came as a shock to people, and the couple was heavily trolled for it. However, both of them have always defended their relationship and marriage by stating that two people should have the choice to love and like anyone they want, without the barriers put down by society. The couple has also said numerous times that they do not consider their age gap very important in their relationship.
Milind Soman has always been a sportsman and made records as a marathon runner
Milind Soman started swimming when he was six. After that, he went on to represent India as a swimmer at the South Asian Games, where he won a silver medal. Throughout his life, the actor has given equal efforts to sports as he has given to acting. Milind is also a marathon runner and has his name in the Limca Book of Records for covering 1500km in just thirty days. He also completed the Ironman challenge, which is considered one of the most difficult one-day sports events, within 15 hours on his first try.
Milind Soman had sparked a ‘meme-fest’ with his photos featuring him running nude on a beach
Another nude photo of Milind Soman caused quite a stir, and a case was registered against him again. On his 55th birthday, the actor posted a picture of him running nude on a beach in Goa. A complaint was filed against him at a police station by the Goa Suraksha Manch. Apart from this, a social media meme-fest was also followed by many trolling the actor and calling the photo a publicity stunt.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Milind Soman said that he had done nude photography before as an actor and a model. So he doesn’t see anything wrong with the photos. He also said that the lines between art, obscenity and vulgarity are subjective and change every day. Defending the photo that sparked a huge controversy, Milind Soman had said:
“Last week, Jennifer Lopez put up a naked picture on her 50th birthday. On Instagram. What do people have to say about that? The fact is, the line is in your head. What is art, what is vulgarity, what is an obscenity and what is not. It is so subjective and it changes every day.”
What are your thoughts on Milind Soman, who played the role of ‘Maharaj Yuvanath’ in The Royals?
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