Prathvi 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.
Prathvi is an aspiring model, actor and Company Secretary professional who belongs to Udupi, Karnataka. Currently pursuing the final level of the Company Secretary course alongside his 21-month internship in Chennai, he is also steadily building a career in modelling with the larger ambition of becoming a Pan-India actor. Representing Karnataka at Mr India Universe, Prathvi brings to the national stage a journey shaped by changing aspirations, perseverance, self-belief and the courage to pursue a dream that once remained quietly within him.
Born in Udupi, Prathvi spent a significant part of his childhood at his grandmother’s home, living away from his parents until he completed his tenth standard. Those formative years played an important role in developing his independence and emotional strength. While he considers himself an average student academically, his interests from an early age extended beyond the classroom, particularly towards sports and creative pursuits. Cricket became his first major passion, and he pursued the sport seriously as a wicketkeeper-batsman with the dream of one day playing professionally.
Following his schooling, Prathvi completed his 11th and 12th in Commerce at Poornaprajna PU College before pursuing a B.Com at Poornaprajna College in Udupi. During this period, his aspirations were still primarily centred around cricket. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected change to the direction he had envisioned for himself. With his ambitions of pursuing cricket professionally becoming uncertain, Prathvi began exploring an alternative path that could provide him with a strong professional foundation.
It was during his B.Com studies that he discovered the Company Secretary course. Recognising an opportunity to build a professional career through the field, he decided to pursue it seriously. His commitment to education continued even as his interests gradually expanded into other areas, and he eventually moved to Chennai to undertake his internship. Today, while continuing his professional education and completing his 21-month internship, Prathvi is simultaneously pursuing another ambition that had been close to his heart for years—the world of modelling and acting.
For a long time, the dream of entering the entertainment industry remained something Prathvi kept largely to himself. He was uncertain about how his parents would respond to his desire to pursue modelling and eventually acting, and this hesitation kept him from openly taking the first step. However, at the age of 21, after moving to Chennai for his internship, he decided that he could no longer allow uncertainty to prevent him from exploring his potential.
He began his modelling journey and trained under an actress who had also worked as a model. Through this experience, he developed a deeper understanding of confidence, grooming, presentation, stage presence and discipline. The training gave him the foundation to approach modelling with greater seriousness and prepared him for his first major opportunity in the pageant world.
That opportunity came with Mr Chennai 2025.
For Prathvi, the competition represented far more than a pageant title. It was his first significant opportunity to step into the industry he had quietly dreamed of entering. Standing on the stage meant confronting years of hesitation and self-doubt while giving himself an opportunity to discover whether he truly belonged in the world of modelling.
He did, and he emerged as Mr Chennai 2025.
The victory became a defining moment in Prathvi’s journey, not only because it gave him his first major title but also because it gave him the confidence to finally share his aspirations with his family. After winning the title, he found the courage to tell his parents about his dream of pursuing modelling and acting. Their response became an important source of encouragement. Rather than questioning his decision, they expressed their pride and supported his ambitions, becoming some of his strongest supporters as he continued to pursue his chosen path.
The title, however, did not make the road ahead effortless. Prathvi soon experienced the realities of building a career in modelling, where opportunities were not always consistent and progress could sometimes be slower than expected. He also encountered people who questioned or mocked his decision to enter the field. Yet these challenges did not deter him. Instead, they strengthened his resolve to continue improving himself and moving towards the goals he had set.
Alongside his professional education, Prathvi began investing considerable effort in his personal development. Fitness, dance, grooming and modelling became important parts of his routine, each contributing to his growth and confidence. Dance, in particular, developed into one of his greatest passions, while cricket and football continued to remain close to his heart. For Prathvi, fitness is not simply about physical appearance; it represents discipline and consistency, while learning new skills is another step towards becoming the person he ultimately aspires to be.
His ambitions extend well beyond the pageant stage. Prathvi’s ultimate goal is to become a Pan-India actor and establish himself on the big screen. He draws inspiration from Sushanth Singh Rajput, whom he deeply admires for his ambition, humility, curiosity and courage to dream beyond conventional boundaries. These qualities resonate with Prathvi’s own outlook towards life, particularly his belief that growth comes from continuously challenging oneself and refusing to remain confined by circumstances.
Every stage of his journey has contributed to this larger ambition. The discipline developed through cricket, the professional foundation provided by his education, the courage required to begin modelling, the lessons learned through training, the confidence gained from winning Mr Chennai 2025 and the resilience developed through setbacks have all become different parts of the same journey. For Prathvi, every workout, dance session, stage appearance, rejection and opportunity is part of the preparation for the future he envisions.
What makes Prathvi’s journey particularly distinctive is that it has not followed a perfectly predetermined path. His early ambition was to become a professional cricketer, but circumstances led him towards education and the Company Secretary profession. His move to Chennai for his internship subsequently opened the door to modelling, a dream he had carried privately for years. Taking that first step eventually led him to the Mr Chennai 2025 title, which in turn gave him the confidence to openly pursue his aspirations with the support of his family.
Today, his journey reaches another significant milestone as he represents Karnataka at Mr India Universe. From his childhood in Udupi and his early days on the cricket grounds to his education at Poornaprajna College, his move to Chennai, his first steps into modelling and his victory at Mr Chennai 2025, Prathvi arrives at the national platform carrying years of experiences that have shaped both his character and his ambitions.
His appearance at Mr India Universe is therefore not simply another pageant opportunity; it represents another step towards the larger dream he continues to pursue. With the support of his family, the discipline developed through his varied experiences and an unwavering desire to grow, Prathvi approaches the national stage with the same determination that has carried him through every unexpected turn in his journey.
For Prathvi, the national stage is not the culmination of his story but the continuation of it. His journey from Udupi to Chennai and now to the national platform reflects a willingness to embrace change, learn from setbacks and keep moving forward when the path becomes uncertain. With his eyes set firmly on the big screen and his ambitions extending towards a career as a Pan-India actor, he continues to build his journey one opportunity, one challenge and one achievement at a time.
The road ahead may bring new challenges, but Prathvi’s journey has already demonstrated that dreams do not always follow a straight path. Sometimes, they evolve through unexpected turns, require patience and demand the courage to begin again. For him, the destination remains clear—to make his name on the big screen—and every step he takes today is part of the journey towards making that dream a reality.
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: Prathvi.
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