Seven-time Mr India title holder and MTV Splitsvilla 7 fame Mayank Pawar passed away at the age of 37. His sudden demise has sent shockwaves across the entertainment industry and the fitness community.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed through an official Instagram post describing him as “a brother, a champion, a mentor, and an inspiration to many.” Fans and colleagues flooded social media with tributes, mourning the loss of the celebrated bodybuilder. However, the exact cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
Who was Mayank Pawar?
Mayank Pawar rose to fame through his appearance on MTV Splitsvilla Season 7, where his strength, discipline and charisma made him an instant favourite for many. One of the most talked-about moments from the season was when host Sunny Leone became emotional during his elimination. Beyond reality television, Pawar built a formidable reputation in the Indian fitness industry.
Bodybuilding and premature death: What studies reveal
While the cause of Mayank Pawar’s death remains unknown, his passing has reignited conversations around the health risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
The bodybuilding community has witnessed similar losses in recent years, including the death of professional Indian bodybuilder and actor Varinder Singh Ghuman in October last year.
A study titled “Mortality in Male Bodybuilding Athletes” examined the mortality risk among a large international population of bodybuilders.
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Researchers analysed male athletes who competed in International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) competitions between 2005 and 2020. Participants were classified based on age, division, and competition level.
The results of the study emphasised the need to alert the bodybuilding and medical communities to improved preventive measures to promote safer sports participation.
Another study published in the European Heart Journal found that sudden cardiac death is responsible for an unusually high proportion of deaths in male bodybuilders worldwide, with the highest risk among professional bodybuilders.
As per the research, their findings highlight the health risks associated with competitive bodybuilding and suggest the need for greater awareness, preventive strategies and policy changes within this community.
" Bodybuilding, in itself, is not dangerous. In fact, resistance training improves longevity, metabolic health, and bone strength. The risk arises when training becomes extreme and unregulated. Excessive high-intensity training without adequate recovery can strain the cardiovascular system. The more serious concern is the misuse of anabolic steroids and unregulated supplements, which can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, arrhythmias, liver injury, and sudden cardiac death, even in young individuals. Dehydration practices before competitions and rapid weight manipulation can also be hazardous. Faulty lifting techniques further increase the risk of spine injuries and neurological complications. Bodybuilding should be science-based, supervised, and health-focused; not driven by shortcuts or performance-enhancing substances," says Dr Sudhir Kumar, Hyderabad-based neurologist.
Mayank Pawar’s untimely death is not only a loss to the entertainment and fitness industries but also a moment to reflect on athlete health, extreme training practices, and the long-term impact of competitive bodybuilding.
For more information, consult a health expert.
