It was a late night telephonic interview. That was the only time he could be free. Not really free; that was the time he hits the gym. But Dinesh Mohan was glad to talk, to share the story of his unbelievably true journey. His name might not ring a bell, but his photos would, definitely. The drop-dead gorgeous model is quite familiar for his carved physique, sharp gaze, dashing smile and silver locks and beard. The handsome hunk enjoys a huge fan following, thanks to his irresistible charm and never-say-never attitude that have made him the king of silver foxes!
Back in his Gurgaon home after an 11-day shooting in Punjab, for Salman Khan-starrer Bharat, Dinesh sounds enthusiastic and positive, “It was an exciting experience. I was shooting with Salman, Katrina Kaif, Tabu and Sunil Grover.” A much-sought-after model, Dinesh has walked the ramp for noted designers and brands and was featured in magazine covers, including that of Vogue. He was part of various commercials and TV sops like Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai. “I have lost count, it has been more than 600 shooting sessions,” he says.
Busy days are something that came to his life just two years ago. Before that, Dinesh was a regular guy with no stunning looks or wooing charm. “Mine is a Bollywood-ish story — of fall, fight and revival,” he laughs.
Long ago, Dinesh Mohan was a class-I officer in Haryana government service. A personal tragedy followed by negative circumstances forced him to quit his job and soon, he plunged into depression. “For over 12 years, I was under medication for psychiatric illness, heart ailment and diabetes. Medical complications developed and I gained a lot of weight. At 130 kg, I could no longer stand on my feet. I was bed-ridden for nearly nine months and could not drive or walk; I’d lose balance if I tried to,” he recalls. It was his sister — 19 years younger to him — who looked after Dinesh, who slowly realised that he was damaging not just his, but her life too.
“My brother-in-law confronted me and said I had to break out of the shell of depression, which was killing me. He trusted in my willpower and with their encouragement, in 2014, I started a healthy diet and joined a gym.” In six months, Dinesh brought down his body weight to 78 kg and made his best decision - throw away all the pills.
The transformation intrigued a journalist next door who wrote an article about the man of determination. Seeing Dinesh’s photos in the magazine, an advertisement agency in Delhi approached him for an audition. “It was on January 16, 2016, my 57th birthday. Standing under the light, I felt a direct connect with God. It’s the day I reclaimed my life and found a new path,” he adds.
Since then, there has been no looking back. Earlier this year, Dinesh came to Kerala twice, to walk the ramp for designers. When he returned, he took home a contract for his very first Malayalam movie — Rosario Family directed by Shyamsankaran Korumbu. “I play the titular role in the film. The shooting will start in mid-December in Goa and Kochi,” he divulges.
With modelling and acting projects coming his way, Dinesh is super busy and super happy. “It’s not about money. I will turn 60 next month. If people feel motivated by me, that’s the best reward I can get. I want to inspire people to be hopeful and live again,” he explains.
Dinesh is well aware that amidst the laurels, there’s a judgmental crowd who makes fun of him. He clarifies, “There’s a lot of age-shaming happening and I’m pretty used to it. People are not very kind to old people. I regularly encounter comments from people who think that I should be at home thinking of God instead of walking around in jeans. None of those bothers me. I love my grey beard and hair and never try to hide it. I believe in living life to the fullest, happily, the healthy way.”
Dinesh hopes that everyone would learn to ignore negativity. “I know one should be very loving to each other. But first, you need to love and respect yourself; only then will others start loving you. That’s my mantra and my message,” he concludes.
