As a person who appreciates his time at the gym (and advocates fitness in general), I knew I had to post this story as soon as I read it earlier today. Meet India’s Aditya ‘Romeo’ Dev, the world’s smallest bodybuilder:
Unlike many dwarfs, Romeo is well proportioned, with a head circumference of 15in and a chest measurement of 20in.
Romeo said: “I’ve been training as a bodybuilder for the last two years and by now I think I must be the strongest dwarf in the world.
“I have always been fit but since I started working out, I have become famous for my strength. [Link]
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I doubt very much that he is the strongest dwarf in the world, but I do admire his ambition. What I appreciate most about “Romeo” is that he just does his thing with confidence. One big fear some people have about going to the gym is that they will look weak in front of the rest of the “big muscle-bound” guys. As you can see from the pictures, Dev isn’t even afraid to wear Calvin & Hobbes shorts while working out:
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Don’t stare without pinhole sunglasses |
Finally, the media will have something from India besides the Little Superstar to talk about. At least this guy is a certified pimp.
I have to say, as a person who doesn’t believe in heroes or hero-worship, that this guy comes close. I felt about as small in stature as him when I started dancing with the iron, but there is a certain amount of ‘heart’ involved and he really has it. One downside is at least 5 people i know emailed me to say, “hey, I think they found a picture of your dad working out–no wonder you’re such a hairy bastard!”
Also, take a peek at the gym they’re posing in. THAT is hardcore. Forget Metroflex.
Unlike many dwarfs, Romeo is well proportioned, with a head circumference of 15in and a chest measurement of 20in.
in the USA they would prolly give someone like this growth hormone; that’s solved most of the issues with these sorts of dwarfs.
Props to Romeo for his attitude and his confidence. It does make one feel oh so lazy now for not wanting to run on the treadmill and head to the gym simply because its so cold. Anyway to send him a tub of whey/creatine and a copy of fitnessRx to help him
on his way tokeep the title of world’s strongest dwarf? I’d love to see Romeo as a guest blogger on all things fitness.more power to him! good for this guy–this is an inspiring story.
you’ve been a prolific poster tonight, abhi. perhaps, you should spend more time searching for a life partner instead of blogging? ๐
Can his shorts be any more adorable? I bet when he walks into a gym and starts lifting his weights the whole gym, meat heads included, goes “AHHHHHHHHHH”
i see Romeo as more of a Muscular Development/ Musclemag traditionalist than a FitnessRX guy.
Who says I can’t do both at the same time? ๐
Who says I can’t do both at the same time? ๐
here here!
Abhi and Nayagan,
If you haven’t seen it, check crossfit. A friend who was in the corps put me on to it as it seems to attract the military/law enforcement set. Some of the routines they have are ridiculous but it helps to break the monotony of the iron. It’s also extremely effective. It’s near impossible to do the routines as a beginner, but, beginners can learn a lot from the videos on technique and gain from just doing a smattering of the exercises listed.
Does anyone know whether they sell mags like Muscular Development in India or even an Indian version of Men’s Health? What’s the exercise/muscle building culture like in India? If it’s still nascent, I have to give this guy even more props.
His story reminds me of the “Biggest Loser” television show where overweight people go on nationwide television and exercise their asses off in competition to see who loses the largest percentage of body weight. I’m not a fan of most TV or reality TV but I love that show (eventhough I hate the title). I’m openly rooting for these women/men to get their lives back in order and develop that exercise/eating healthy routine. It’s just amazing at how far they progress with just a little bit effort and a change in certain habits. It’s also amazing that they are willing to display their considerable girth on nationwide television just to get a chance to make themselves healthy.
Does anyone know whether they sell mags like Muscular Development in India or even an Indian version of Men’s Health? What’s the exercise/muscle building culture like in India? If it’s still nascent, I have to give this guy even more props.
Read Mahabharta (longest epic ever written by men)…….Bheema, one of the Pandavas is one of the earliest muscleman of India.
Phelwaan (Hindustani/ Urdu for muscleman), and Akhara (a village gym or wrestling arean) is as old as sun rise.
Now to urban Indian, gyms in India are not new, they tend to be overcrowded though.
Thanks Kush. I have heard of the word phelwaan and I know of the pandavas, though admittedly I never looked at them through an exercise prism. I also have cousins who are into kabaddi so I know people “work out” in India. I was referring more to the formal gym atmosphere and the availability of fitness information, supplements and materials. I wasn’t suggesting that India didn’t have gyms but was wondering if it’s anything like here in the US where you can find one every few miles and whether its become a big industry. When I go to the motherland every couple of years, I’m usually in the pind and I don’t get an opportunity to spend a lot of time in the major cities (traveling to see family) so I haven’t had occasion to find the gyms. Next time I go, I’ll have to allot some time to check it out.
I’m pretty impressed…though he still looks a little creepy. Just a wee bit.
Jangali et al, In the big cities, Bombay, Bangalore, Delhi you’ll find alot of gyms catering to the upper and middle classes. The international brand Gold’s Gym has opened locations in major cities in India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and SriLanka in the last decade. But ofcourse physical culture has not caught ablaze as in the West with the general population. I thought these links might be of interest: Bobybuilding in India
87′ Mr.Universe Prem Chand
Possibly NSFW: Do you have any baby-oil??
When I was a teenager, I went to the Ernakulam Gymnasium during the summer for two months. It was the oldest Gym in Ernakulam; I don’t know if it’s still there. At that time the monthly fee was Rs. 15! The “Master” would ensure that each and every “student” walked out of there sweating blood. You had to do Floor Exercises for three months before the “Master” deemed you worthy enough to touch weights; I didn’t touch any weights during my two months there. It was all about Push-ups, Pull-ups, Dips, Sit-ups, Crunches, and their different variations. Like Kush mentioned, it was super-crowded most of the time. It was all very old school, like, we were not supposed to drink water during our workout, we were barefoot during workouts, a loincloth (standard issue during induction for Rs. 2) had to be worn underneath our shorts to “avoid hernia”, etc. In spite of the spartan, sweaty, and thus smelly conditions, densely populated with muscular, hairy men with fierce moustaches, that was the best thirty Rupees that I ever spent. Of course, nowadays in Ernakulam there are plenty of modern Health Clubs with really good facilities.
This is a meaningless statement. There is no one type of dwarf. The ‘ill-proportioned’ dwarves that we’re most used to seeing are achondroplastic, they have rhizomelic (short) limbs and large heads. This guy looks like a primordial dwarf judging by his proportions and size.
I can’t believe his idol is Jazzy B!
Yes Abhishek, listen to (4)Tarta and spend more time in a worthy cause ! Multitasking is good when you work on your thesis or Mars project, but not when it comes to zero-in on someone who is going to live with you happily hereafter. I am just saying !
JJ,
Please excuse my distaste for Crossfit–it’s not (in my non-medical opinion, unless you count the generational effect of my appappa’s career as apothecary) medically advisable to do any of their routines unless you wish to end up in the hospital due to rhabdomyolysis–not saying that incredibly fit individuals can’t do it, but the exercises it incorporates can be found in other exercise regimes that are not premised on masochism.
As far as i can tell, it’s pretty bad. Gyms seems to come with prosperity in India, unlike in Western Europe and the US where gyms often are a refuge for upward-striving youngsters in rural/poor areas–some of it certainly has to do with bad nutritional information from family members (aunties saying, “lentils have protein!”). Even in Europe, the diversity and quality of gym equipment and supplements available are far less than in the US (unless you’re an olympic weightlifter/powerlifter and don’t care about pulling in your gut).
There’s certainly no end of interest, but Prem Chand seems to be an aberration–he had a world-class physique and was invited to the Mr. Olympia competition (although he came in during the massive upsurge in diuretic use and ‘roid stacking.)
As a skinny 5’5″, 125 lbs when wet desi, I can relate to this. Seven or eight years ago, when I first started going to the gym, I used to be absolutely intimidated by the typical gym-rat who weighed about twice as I did. But after a year or so, those fears went away. Persistence and not giving a #$%^ about what others think is the key. I hardly ever go to the gym anymore, having discovered ashtanga yoga, and all the perks that go along with it … yoginis…
Does anyone know whether they sell mags like Muscular Development in India or even an Indian version of Men’s Health? What’s the exercise/muscle building culture like in India? If it’s still nascent, I have to give this guy even more props.
Atleast in the cities (Bombay, Bangalore, Delhi) in my experience, there is a proliferation of gyms and it is not too hard to find a gym/fitness centre. Most societies (apartment complexes) also have some sort of gym/exercise equipment rooms in them as well. Men’s health has an Indian edition. http://www.menshealthindia.com/
so everytime i visit SM now i’m greeted by this fellows’ crotch in the middle of my screen…new post please?
Nayagan,
LOL. The crossfit stuff does bend toward the extreme. I’m certainly not at the level where I can do most of their routines, full-bore. I steal some of the exercises they list and add it to my own workout to spice things up. They do manage to come up with some innovative ways of racking one’s body. Besides, a little masochism isn’t so bad, its a decent way to test one’s limits. ;). If your interested in a bit of a physical challenge check this out. If I get up the gumption, I’m going to give that event a go as part of a team. It will help me to stay motivated otherwise I’d be over-indulging my entenmann’s, kheer and burfi cravings and blaming my inactivity on every “bs” reason I can come up with.
Absolutely. I remember starting out and thinking everyone’s snickering at my general conditioning and how little I was pressing. After a while, one realizes that with consistency and time gains will come, a lot of the insecurity is self-created and if there is anyone who’s a bit of a prick (which I find is rare in a decent gym), that’s just more motivation.
Were Romeo Dev’s parents first cousins?
Think he’ll make it to the Olympics….or at least the little person version of it?
Looking at the picture I though it was some kind of ventriloquist act. A not so promising show judging from the performers’ expressions.
Ok i am absolutely creeped out. Please tell me that pic is photoshopped
A friend sent me this yesterday afternoon, and my first thought was “creepy!” followed quickly by “I wonder how long before SM posts this?”
Thanks PAfD for bringing us back on topic.
It seems to me that India has alot of dawrfs and these dawrfs dont have any clothing catering towards them. I am going to become the Dolce & Gabbana of midget clothing.
A different interpretation at my favorite tech gossip blog
My first thought when I saw this post, “Why do they have a closeup of his crotch?”
Why is he blond?
It’s because of posts like this that I lost interest in the site..
It’s because of posts like this that I lost interest in the site..
Instead of losing interest, why dont you just skip these posts? I usually skip the Bollywood posts. Unless you have your own blog there will always be topics which wont hold your interest.
Anyone else think Romeo looks a little too much like M. Night Shyamalan?
EL SD: you are right, indeed. romeo does have an uncanny resemblance to M. Night Shyamalan ๐
Here’s a video of some TV show featuring aditya ‘romeo’ dev.
http://www.rajshri.com/zee/shabaashindia/nowplaying.asp?band=low&fileID=shabaashindiareality102&type=hindi
How much does he charge for being used as a human barbell?
Golds Gym in Mumbai is $hit expensive.. more like about $100 -$150 a month. I joined a gym for a month when i visited mumbai and they charged me $80 (I pay $25 per month here) and it was located on the 8th floor of a building. A floor converted into a gym. The atmosphere wasnt great either but they had a DJ playing music while ppl worked out. And this was an upper cloass locality. Not exactly bang for the buck. half of these gyms are not worth joining. Its just a commercial enterprise.
So, how does weight relate to height? The article says “Romeo” is 2 ft 9 in tall, and weighs 9 kg (~20 lbs). That is around 1/7th of somebody twice that height, according to this chart, and does not even correspond to the prediction of 86 lbs, which the 2 lbs/inch gradient indicated by that table would give.
I thought dwarves should have similar height-weight ratios to regular adults, shouldn’t they?
I wonder how he convinced the trainer to take him on. Surely, there’s a backstory of a Ranjeet Pal who is washed up/drunk/bankrupt/nursing an old injury to his ego deciding to redeem himself by getting Romeo to pump iron, a la Rocky or Million Dollar Baby?
Don’t forget DodgeBall.