In the long run

Supermodel to endurance athlete to wellness icon, Milind Soman has never played by the rules of age. In conversation with Bazaar India, he opens up about why his 50s feel like his fittest, freest decade yet.

- Words by SONAL VED

For 59-year-old Milind Soman, ageing is not a slow fade, it's a rising force. In his 20s, he already held a clear vision of how his mind, body, and spirit would evolve by his 50s, a blueprint instilled by his parents with a scientific mindset who believed wholeheartedly that one's body is what you make of it. And so for nearly three decades, Soman dedicated himself to that vision.

Any discussion of Soman's body would be incomplete without mentioning the 1995 Tuff Shoes advertisement with supermodel Madhu Sapre, nude, entwined with a python, wearing nothing but sneakers, a now-iconic piece of controversial art that cemented his image and dominated conversations. Nearly 30 years later, that sculpted physique hasn't softened, it has only grown stronger, more resilient, more alive, if the photos in this feature are anything to go by.

In our conversation for Bazaar India's Body and Beyond issue, Soman reveals that his journey with the body has never been only about physical endurance, it has been a path of deep self-inquiry and spiritual work. He talks candidly about his unconventional health choices, reframes pain, and explains the meaning of vulnerability and rest.

HB: You've reinvented yourself through the decades—from model to endurance athlete to wellness advocate. How has your relationship with your body evolved through these shifts and with age?

Milind Soman: I had a very different kind of childhood from most people—I was involved in competitive sport. That's an incredible experience, not just physically, but mentally. It teaches you how your body works, how your mind reacts, how you deal with situations and relationships. When you have those lessons early on in life, it really helps you to chart out your own journey.