Pratham Raykar from Karnataka has been selected as one of the national finalists for the 2026 Mr. India Universe competition. The national finale of the competition is scheduled to take place later this year. At the culmination of the event, the new Mr. India Universe winner will be chosen.
Pratham Raykar is an engineer, technology professional and model. His journey reflects a compelling blend of ambition, discipline, creativity and a continuous desire for personal growth. Born in Siddapura, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, and brought up in Sirsi, he carries with him the grounded values of his hometown while pursuing a career and aspirations that have taken him well beyond its boundaries. Currently based in Mangaluru, Karnataka, Pratham has built a multifaceted identity that brings together technology, fitness, the performing arts and modelling, with each chapter of his journey contributing to the person he is today.
His academic foundation was shaped by a Bachelor of Engineering, which provided him with the technical grounding to enter the technology industry. His professional journey subsequently developed in the areas of solution consulting, product requirements, cloud architecture and technology-driven business solutions. Working as a Sales Engineer / Product Analyst, he operates at the intersection of business needs and technology, where understanding complex requirements and translating them into practical solutions forms an important part of his role. This experience has strengthened not only his technical and analytical abilities but also his communication, problem-solving and ability to understand the larger picture behind a business requirement.
Over time, his professional experiences taught him that growth is rarely the result of having all the answers from the outset. Instead, it comes from the willingness to learn, ask questions, adapt to changing circumstances and take responsibility for the work one undertakes. Every project, challenge and professional interaction has therefore become part of a broader learning process, shaping him not merely as a technology professional but also as an individual who values continuous development.
Yet, for Pratham, personal growth has never been confined to professional achievement. One of the most defining chapters of his journey has been his physical transformation, through which he lost approximately 15 kilograms of body fat over a period of six months. What began as a fitness goal evolved into a much deeper lesson in discipline, consistency and self-belief. The transformation required him to continue working towards his goal even during periods when motivation was low and progress appeared slow. In doing so, he discovered that meaningful transformation is rarely created by one extraordinary decision; rather, it is built through the accumulation of ordinary decisions made consistently over time.
That experience fundamentally influenced the way he approached challenges. It reinforced his belief that the person one ultimately becomes is shaped by the habits practised in the present. Fitness, therefore, became more than a physical pursuit for him—it became an important exercise in discipline and a reminder that long-term change requires patience, commitment and the ability to remain consistent even when immediate results are not visible.
Alongside technology and fitness, Pratham has always maintained a strong connection with creativity and self-expression. His interests span dance, singing, painting and music, with the guitar and ukulele among the instruments he enjoys playing. These creative pursuits provide another dimension to his personality, allowing him to explore different forms of expression while continually developing his confidence and individuality. He is equally drawn to the worlds of watches, perfumes and sneakers, appreciating the craftsmanship, design, fragrances and stories associated with them. For him, these interests are not merely collections or possessions; they represent an appreciation of individuality, style and the finer details through which personality can be expressed.
This combination of interests reflects the different dimensions of his character. Fitness represents discipline, the performing and visual arts reflect creativity, his appreciation for watches, perfumes and sneakers demonstrates an interest in style and craftsmanship, while technology embodies his curiosity and analytical approach to problem-solving. Together, they create a personality that is as comfortable engaging with technical challenges as it is exploring creative expression.
His growing interest in modelling and pageantry marked another significant step in his journey. Participating in the Mr. Elite Mangalore pageant and emerging as the 1st Runner-Up gave him an opportunity to move beyond his comfort zone and test himself in a new environment. The experience demanded confidence, presentation, communication and the ability to perform under pressure, while also introducing him to the discipline and responsibility associated with representing oneself before a public audience.
More importantly, the experience broadened his understanding of what a pageant represents. For Pratham, it is not simply a platform centred on appearance. It is equally an exercise in personality, discipline, communication, confidence and the ability to represent something larger than oneself. His experience at Mr. Elite Mangalore consequently became an important stepping stone towards a larger ambition.
That next step arrived with his selection as a National Finalist for Mr. India Universe 2026. The opportunity represents a significant milestone in his journey and brings together several of the experiences that have shaped him so far. From technology and professional consulting to fitness, creative pursuits and pageantry, each chapter has contributed something different to the confidence and perspective with which he now approaches this national platform.
For Pratham, Mr. India Universe 2026 is not simply a competition for a title. It is an opportunity to enter an environment that will challenge him through grooming, communication, public interaction, performance, interviews and personal development. Rather than viewing the platform as the culmination of his journey, he sees it as another stage of learning—one that can help him discover capabilities and possibilities that he may not have explored before.
His journey, by his own account, has not followed a perfectly straight path. Like any meaningful pursuit, it has included uncertainty, challenges and moments of questioning. Yet those experiences have become an integral part of his development. They have taught him that ambition is valuable only when accompanied by discipline, and that confidence does not come from believing oneself to be perfect. Instead, genuine confidence lies in recognising the areas where improvement is needed while still possessing the courage to move forward.
Today, Pratham describes himself as ambitious and optimistic, with a constant desire to embrace the next challenge. His aspirations extend across both of the worlds he has come to value: he hopes to build a career in modelling while continuing to grow professionally within the technology and product space and creating meaningful impact through his work. At the heart of these ambitions, however, lies a desire that extends beyond professional recognition.
More than titles or accomplishments, Pratham aspires to be remembered as a good human being - someone defined by character, kindness, humility and the manner in which he treats others. He hopes to use his journey and platforms such as Mr. India Universe to encourage people to believe in themselves and recognise the potential within them, regardless of where they begin.
As he steps into the next chapter of his journey, Pratham Raykar does not approach Mr. India Universe 2026 with the belief that he has already become the person he ultimately wants to be. Instead, he enters with the determination to become that person. He carries with him the lessons of his hometown, the discipline developed through fitness, the analytical perspective shaped by technology, the confidence gained through pageantry and the creativity nurtured through the arts.
His story is, ultimately, one of continual transformation, a journey defined not by a single achievement but by the willingness to keep learning, evolving and challenging himself. With discipline, consistency, courage and an openness to growth guiding his path, Pratham Raykar now looks towards the Mr. India Universe 2026 platform not merely as a destination, but as another opportunity to discover what he is capable of becoming. And as he takes that step forward, one principle remains at the centre of his journey: transformation is possible when one has the courage to begin, the discipline to continue and the humility to keep learning. For Pratham, the journey is far from complete; in many ways, it is only the beginning.
Mr. India Universe is a national competition for men in India. It is organised by Glamanand Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., the Indian franchise holder of the globally renowned Miss Universe competition. The event is spearheaded by its founder and chairman, Nikhil Anand, and serves as a platform for aspiring male models and personalities from across the country. Following a nationwide audition process, some of India's most talented and promising contestants have been selected to compete in this year's national finale. Before the grand finale, the finalists will undergo an intensive series of grooming and training sessions designed to enhance their confidence, communication skills, personality and stage presence. The contestants will arrive at the finale venue, where they will participate in a schedule of official photoshoots, pre-finale activities, rehearsals and a range of preliminary events leading up to the grand finale. At the culmination of the competition, the reigning Mr. India Universe, Bishan Madappa from Karnataka, will ceremonially relinquish his title and award his successor.
Image source: Pratham Raykar.
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