New Delhi: Actor and model Milind Soman addresses at the grand launch of ‘NaMo Yuva Run: For a Nasha Mukt Bharat’ in New Delhi on Sunday, September 7, 2025. (Photo: IANS/Wasim Sarvar)
New Delhi, September 7 (IANS) Actor and fitness icon Milind Soman on Sunday said he is not only a big fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also an admirer of his commitment to fitness, as he launched the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha’s (BJYM) ambitious ‘Namo Yuva Run’ campaign in the national capital to mark PM Modi 75th birthday.
The event, held at the BJP headquarters, was attended by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, BJYM President and MP Tejasvi Surya, along with others.
Speaking at the launch, Soman underlined the broader meaning of fitness. “Fitness means—in the midst of all the pressure in life—staying active. If you are able to do what you need to do, what you are meant to do, that is a true measure of fitness. Only building biceps or six-pack abs is not fitness,” he said.
Calling the initiative “amazing", Soman highlighted the uniqueness of bringing together 10 lakh people across India to run simultaneously. “I think, not only in India but across the world, this is the first-of-its-kind run at such a scale. I hope we do more such initiatives, because doing it once is not enough. Consistency is the key to change,” he added.
The actor, who has long been associated with fitness campaigns, also linked the run to a broader social cause. “The country and the world are united in the fight against drugs,” Soman said, stressing the role of physical activity in leading a positive life.
BJYM chief and MP Tejasvi Surya announced that the ‘Namo Yuva Run’ will be held on September 21 to mark PM Modi’s 75th birthday.
“Runs will take place at 75 locations, with 10,000–15,000 youth participating at each venue. This means nearly one million young people will run together at the same time. It will be recorded as the biggest and most participative run in the country,” he said.
The campaign, positioned as both a tribute to PM Modi and a call for youth fitness, will mobilise young Indians on an unprecedented scale.
'Namo Yuva Run' at 75 locations to mark PM Modi’s 75th birthday; one million youth to join anti-drug campaign
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Sunday announced a nationwide fitness and social awareness initiative — the 'Namo Yuva Run’ — to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17.
The mega event will be held across 75 locations in India on September 21, with more than one million young participants expected to run simultaneously.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, BJYM President and MP Tejasvi Surya said the run is being organised under the theme “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India).
“Over the last decade, under the leadership of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, India has waged a successful campaign against drugs. This run is not just about fitness, but also about strengthening our youth against the menace of addiction, which weakens individuals and threatens national security,” he said.
Surya highlighted that each location will see 10,000 to 15,000 participants, making it the largest participative run in the country.
Actor and fitness icon Milind Soman. who has been named the brand ambassador of the event, will also join the campaign.
“Since my high school days, I have admired Milind Soman. He remains the fittest Indian today and a role model for young India. But above all, Prime Minister Modi himself is the biggest inspiration for the youth,” Surya remarked.
The BJYM leader linked the drug problem to wider security challenges, including narco-terrorism, cross-border smuggling, and Naxal financing.
He pointed out that in the past 10 years, India has significantly ramped up enforcement, seizing over 24 lakh kg of narcotics between 2014 and 2024, compared to just 3.6 lakh kg in the previous decade.
“In the last one year alone, 10 lakh kg of drugs have been seized and destroyed,” he said.
The ‘Namo Yuva Run’ will be flagged off on September 21, bringing together lakhs of young Indians in a synchronised nationwide call for fitness, discipline, and a drug-free future.
