Who is Ankit Baiyanpuria? Tracing the incredible journey of the wrestler-turned-fitness icon

Fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuria has currently become the talk of the town.

The social media sensation went viral when Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video of him interacting with the Instagram influencer on X (formerly Twitter). Baiyanpuria took part in the programme ‘Shramdan for Cleanliness’ which is a part of the campaign ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign.

Sharing the video, the Prime Minister wrote, “Today, as the nation focuses on Swachhata, Ankit Baiyanpuriya and I did the same! Beyond just cleanliness, we blended fitness and well-being also into the mix. It is all about that Swachh and Swasth Bharat vibe!"


In the clip, the PM can be seen asking Baiyanpurua how the campaign ‘Swachhata Abhiyaan’ will help the youth be more fit, to which the influencer replied, that the citizens should invest in keeping the environment healthy, which would in turn keep them hale and hearty.

The video went viral, amassing more than 6.4 million views and 141K likes. Many netizens flooded the comment section to praise both the PM as well as the youngster for the initiative.

‘The Kashmir Files’ director Vivek Agnihotri wrote, “Thanks @narendramodi for swachchhata abhiyan and successfully leading Bharat to make world’s fastest indigenous vaccine and not just saving 130 cr lives but helping 101 nations. Yes. INDIA CAN DO IT.”

Another fan wrote, “Kudos to you, sir, for leading the way in the cleanliness drive. Your commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan sets a powerful example, proving that real change begins at the top. Your vision for a cleaner, healthier India is a testament to exceptional leadership.”

All About Ankit Baiyanpuria

A resident of Bayanpur, Sonipat, Baiyanpuria is a wrestler turned fitness influencer.

He rose to fame on June 27, when he completed the ‘75 Hard Challenge’ successfully. Originally started by US-based author-entrepreneur Andy Frisella in 2020, the challenge involves going on a strict carb-free diet, performing two 45-minute workouts, drinking a gallon of water, and steering clear of cheat meals and alcohol.

Within months his Instagram handle gained 5.2 million followers, while his YouTube handle amassed 1 million subscribers.

Go Desi, Go Viral

A big part of why Baiyanpuria has found a legion of fans, most of them desi millennials and Gen Z is his love for all things desi. The wrestling sensation always opened his workout videos with the phrase “Ram Ram Sareya Ne” which endeared him to a lot of small-town youth.

As he kept on sharing numerous traditional workouts such as the sapate (wrestling burpees), rope climbing, and mental health + self-advocacy lessons from the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, his popularity spread far and wide.

Humble Beginnings

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Baiyanpuria hails from an impoverished background. Both his parents are daily wage labourers.

He was gaining fame as a wrestler. However, in 2022, he was forced to change tracks after being diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder.

As per a News18 report, he worked as a food delivery executive for some time, before becoming a full-time influencer.

Today, he is the official athlete for a Gurugram startup called Bull Nutrition Cafe. There are also rumours of him being a participant in the upcoming season of popular reality show ‘MTV Roadies’.