20-year-old fitness coach Kuhu Bhosale is prepping for the Women Bikini Fitness, wherein contestants will work the two-piece bikini in any colour and pattern of their choice



Kuhu Bhosale, a 20-year-old participant at the bodybuilding championship, working out at an Andheri gym. Pics/Rane Ashish

It's a Thursday evening when 20-year-old fitness coach Kuhu Bhosale walks into an Andheri gym, wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans. At five feet, one inch, she cuts quite the petite figure. She heads to the changing room and reappears within minutes, this time in gym shorts and sports bra. But, she's no longer the diminutive girl we just met. "I weigh 52 kg, but I lift 60 kg. Sometimes, even more. That surprises most men in the room," she chuckles.

With rippling muscles, little boulders for shoulders and a derriere that could give JLo a run for her money, Bhosale is one of the 100 women competing at an upcoming bodybuilding competition organised by fitness expert Sheru Aangrish as part of the International Health Sports and Fitness Festival, from October 13 to 15 at Goregaon's Bombay Exhibition Centre. Aangrish, who has rendered services to stalwarts like Jason Statham and Arnold Schwarzenegger, was the first to organise Sheru Classic, Asia's first International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness's bodybuilding show in 2011 in Mumbai.



Adele Preston

"Bodybuilding is a sport that requires immense patience and perseverance. There are many who perceive it to be all about beefed-up bodies and consumption of steroids. I want to bust this myth," he says. The Sheru Classic Championship may be in its fifth year, but it's the first time that they will roll out the Amateur Olympia, India, a prestigious event organised by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness event, where winners will receive the Amateur Olympia Pro Card which will allow them access to international bodybuilding festivals. The total prize money is worth '50 lakh, which will be divided among the top three winners in each category.

Bhosale, however, is prepping for the Women Bikini Fitness, wherein contestants will work the two-piece bikini in any colour and pattern of their choice. Here, the assessment takes into consideration the tightness and tone of the skin. "The competitors should have very low body fat, and the physique should neither be excessively muscular nor excessively lean," says Aangrish, adding that the face, hair and makeup should complement the look presented by the athlete.



As a model, Monica Lalwani used to weigh 52 kgs and now as a bodybuilder, her weight is 69 kg

Bhosale, however, is confident of making the cut. "It's highly competitive, considering women around the world will be participating. But, I want to win," she says. Formerly, a marketing manager at a fitness magazine, Bhosale quit her job eight months ago to pursue bodybuilding professionally. She now spends at least two hours in the gym every day. "I have tried gyms in my locality, but I find that the trainers at Bodyholic are the best, at least for me. Plus, even if I am strutting around in shorts or a sports bra, no one blinks an eye," she adds.

Turns out, there are many women in the city who have signed up and are readying to set a tough challenge for Bhosale. Monica Lalwani, whose screen name is Monica Maryjane – you might remember her from Channel V show Roomies [2010] – is an actress/model. Born in Mumbai, Lalwani studied at a military college in Nashik, and at 5'8 1/2" was often the biggest girl in the room. "But, as a model, I had to always look thin. And, in order to make my round face look sculpted, I had to go on many dehydrating diets. After a point, it got to me," she adds. In fact, at the pageant, trainers would often tell her to work on hiding her broad shoulders and biceps, to look slender. "I had to make a choice, either go with who I was or go for glamour." Her choice is obvious. "I don't want to look dainty," she says.



Navreet Josan

Today, a fitness trainer at an MNC, Lalwani starts her day at 5 am, calling it a night at 10 pm. "I work out twice a day and I'm on a strict diet. That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to eat good food," she says. On a diet of high carbs and protein shakes, Lalwani says "she eats like a man". This extends even to romantic evenings. "Earlier, I would only eat salads on dates. These days, I wolf down one-and-a-half chicken tandoori, and, if the guy gives me the stink eye, I'm done," she laughs.

Sometimes, it's the women who also need convincing, Jalandar born Navreet Josan argues. The 31-year-old, who will also be participating in the October contest, says getting attention for her body is common. She often has women coming up to her at cafés and malls asking how she manages to look so sculpted. "Women are apprehensive of bodybuilding because they don't want to 'look like men'. You can have a ripped body and still look beautiful," says Josan, adding that while it's easy to get a fit or toned body, a muscular look requires a far more intense workout and nutrition regime. In 2014, Josan ranked fourth in the National Physique committee's Fort Lauderdale Cup, Florida, and has since won several laurels at international bodybuilding events.

"I remember, that was the first time I had to wear a bikini in public. I had to break the news to my parents gently," she tells us over the phone from Delhi. Josan's father is an agriculturist and mother, a homemaker. "Fortunately, they understood my passion. Now, they cheer for me at competitions," she says. Her biggest stumbling block, however, was finding a coach. "Initially, I couldn't find anybody. The male coaches refused because they felt it was more a man's territory," she says. Her tutoring came from an online source, where she learnt how to pose, how much body tan is needed and what sort of bikini to wear.

"It's not just about the body, it's about the confidence you exude and the way you present yourself in the couple of seconds on stage," she says. Josan wants people to understand that bodybuilding is not all about ripped muscles. "Bodybuilding isn't just about big muscles. It's about achieving symmetry asks looking and feeling good"

Her Instagram handle "lilrocket" – with over 54K followers – is full of flattering comments. While the scene on international competitions is healthy, yet competitive, it can get slightly ugly at the national level. "There's not much money, and enough people to dissuade you," she says. And, if that wasn't enough, it's doesn't come cheap either.

Adele Preston, a 20-year-old commerce student from Mumbai University, will also participate in the bikini category.

"I've been an athlete all my life, but five years ago, I had to put an end to fitness practice after a road accident. I couldn't exert myself," she says. It was in 2015 that Preston picked up the dumbbell once again. These days, she trains six days a week, and has a personal trainer who ensures she doesn't cheat on her diet. Her monthly expenditure on the sport is close to '20,000. "It's an expensive sport. If it weren't for supportive parents, I wouldn't have been able to compete," she says.

Bhosale agrees. Hailing from an affluent family — her father Nagesh Bhosale owns two production houses — help her sustain the workout. "My mother and brother don't understand why I want to look muscular. My father, however, is supportive," says Bhosale, who idolises American fitness model Paige Hathaway. "I want to look like her," she says.



Sheru Aangrish

Sheru Aangrish, the organiser of the show, says he's seeing more participation from women this year. "About 10 years ago, there wouldn't be more than five. Now we have 150," he says. Incidentally, he had tried organising the same show three years ago but had to back out because of lack of sponsors. Now, he has several on board

Rs 20k

Amount Adele Preston spends on training every month