Milind Soman, Usha Soman and Ankita Konwar discuss fitness, a common love for adventure and their latest book

Both mother and son share an easygoing, no-frills attitude. “It’s mind over body. Anybody can do anything,” she asserts. What about Konwar? “She prefers yoga, I don’t do yoga,” Milind says, smiling. And I already know what he’s going to say next. “It’s a little slow for me. It’s a weakness I have that I can’t slow down.” Konwar seems to agree. “It is amazing that Milind lives this kind of active life, but I believe that it’s also very important to be able to sit in a place quietly and just be with your thoughts.” Unlike Glasgow-born Milind, Konwar grew up in a small town in Assam. Surrounded by thickets and lush terrain, she grew up climbing trees and swimming in rivers, which instilled in her a deep gratitude for the earth. Konwar is candid about solitude being instrumental in her journey.

“I give mental health importance above all else. My mindfulness stems from being able to be by myself. I’ve had so much time to reflect on my thoughts,” she says. In the book, she explains how she learned that life is neither good nor bad. It is simply a series of light and dark experiences together. And it was her solitary time that allowed for this understanding. Milind and Konwar are known for their shared love of adventure, whether that’s climbing Mt Kilimanjaro together, going deep-sea diving in the Red Sea or running marathons. “I think that’s what unites the three of us—our explorer’s spirit,” says Konwar. You can tell that this collective outlook is not tethered to mere routine but stems from an unshakeable desire to live more intentionally.

Shunning the traditional playbook, Milind says, “People say, ‘Oh, it’s like you don’t age.’ But I have aged. I look at ‘Made in India’ and say, ‘Oh my goodness, who is this guy?’ It’s interesting because none of us go to the gym. I don’t have a trainer or a dietician. We don’t do the conventional stuff. There’s no regimen. We even run barefoot.” Milind believes in listening to his body and breaking typical conditioning. “I want to learn what’s best for me. I don’t want anyone telling me that.”

The book, Keep Moving, hits the stands on 21st June 2024.

Photographed by Manasi Sawant

Styled by Tania Fadte

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