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Mayank Pawar, Mr India winner and 'Splitsvilla' contestant, dies at 37
Pawar, a six-time winner of the Mr India title for body-building, was also a celebrity fitness trainer
- PUBLISHED: Wed 25 Feb 2026, 11:25 AM
Mayank Pawar, fitness icon and reality TV personality best known for his role in the MTV show Splitsvilla, died in Mumbai on Tuesday. He was 37.
"A brother, a champion, a mentor, and an inspiration to many. Mayank Pawar will forever live in our hearts," Pawar's family wrote in a post on his Instagram handle. "Please join us in prayer and remembrance." A prayer meeting was scheduled for Wednesday.
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The cause of his death wasn't immediately clear. The post caused shock and grief among his many fans and followers on social media. Many poured their heart out, and lamenting this was a life gone too soon.
Pawar, a six-time winner of the Mr India title for body-building, was also a celebrity fitness trainer.
Fitness was Pawar's calling even as showbiz pitchforked him into the limelight. His Instagram feed is littered with videos of him working out at a gym or offering advise on how to bulk up.
One of his posts offers holistic advice such as urging people to cut screen time and maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, in addition to working out regularly.
Pawar became a household name after his participation in the seventh season of the show Splitsvilla, a dating and reality show where young men and women, in a secluded house, must complete specific tasks and mingle with contestants to win love.
Pawar impressed audiences and the show's hosts Sunny Leone and Nikhil Chinapa with his fitness ethic and dedication. A bold and daring personality, coupled with his sense of fairplay, endeared himself to fans despite his eventual elimination from the show.
The sports presenter Sanjana Ganesan, who would go on to marry Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, was also a participant of the show that season. She left the show mid-way following an injury.
