The 19-year-old boy from Uttarakhand’s Almora has currently taken over the internet for his grit and determination to realize his dream of joining the armed forces. Pardeep Mehra came to the spotlight after he was spotted running home from work by filmmaker Vinod Kapri as that was the only time he could prep for his entrance.
This is PURE GOLD❤️❤️
नोएडा की सड़क पर कल रात 12 बजे मुझे ये लड़का कंधे पर बैग टांगें बहुत तेज़ दौड़ता नज़र आया
मैंने सोचा
किसी परेशानी में होगा , लिफ़्ट देनी चाहिएबार बार लिफ़्ट का ऑफ़र किया पर इसने मना कर दिया
वजह सुनेंगे तो आपको इस बच्चे से प्यार हो जाएगा ❤️😊 pic.twitter.com/kjBcLS5CQu
— Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) March 20, 2022
The boy was recently called by a renowned news channel to their studio for an interview. But the channel decided to ignore his struggle of juggling between work and home while squeezing in little time for his dreams. In spite of highlighting the inequality and the lack of opportunities in the country, this news channel made him run inside their studio for reasons best known to them.
Watch:
NEWS18 के स्टूडियो में प्रदीप मेहरा#PradipMehra #RUNNINGBOY @arzoosai @nsbhattacharje pic.twitter.com/1qlmbECBXp
— News18 Uttar Pradesh (@News18UP) March 21, 2022
While talking to the two anchors of the show, Mehra spoke about his hardships and how he has been preparing to join the forces.
When asked why is he fixated on joining the forces, he said, “Since childhood, I have been hearing stories of the valor of the soldiers. Hence, I wanted to become one of them.”
Talking of enjoying his ‘celebrity status’, he added, “I have been getting around 100-200 calls from people keen on helping me. However, I wasn’t able to attend half of them because I had a lot of people and media coming to our home to meet me.”
He also shared that apart from his and his brother’s salary, they have taken a loan for their mother’s treatment.
But people were irked on seeing him run inside the studio. This is how they reacted:
Pathetic journalism!!! You guys made him run in your studio !! Shame on you @News18UP https://t.co/MR9JealjOl
— KM Jubeesh (@kmjubeesh) March 22, 2022
This is #journalism – If ridiculous questions are not enough, you made him run inside your studio! #Shame https://t.co/CySXqWeZEd
— Rajarshi (@rajarshi81) March 21, 2022
Exploitation of a talent for their TRP.
Shame on you @news18dotcom#PradeepMehra https://t.co/9mneE1myb7— Arun Kumar 🇮🇳 (@arunkp10) March 21, 2022
Trust News18 to do the absolute stupidest shit possible. Disgraceful hatemongers yes, but also dim witted negative IQ stupids. https://t.co/cVw4hS4nS2
— Mohd Fahad (@mohdfahad42) March 21, 2022
Running in the studio 😲😲 our news channels are the worst https://t.co/ResHZW3Nb2
— Krishnamraju (@krishnamrajuk) March 21, 2022
This is highly shameful
These news channels not only harrassing him by this way also they are disturbing his mental peace, focus, privacy.
Making him famous will cause him great difficulty and threat ahead.
Please spare that boy from your trp game. https://t.co/ZXxPKirelp— अंकित जिन:। (@akj224) March 21, 2022
What a country! Fit India movement. Studio mein bhaga diya. https://t.co/mloQwP7g5Y
— Hindoo NRI (@KanchenjungaEve) March 21, 2022
Stunt for TRP very proud of you @News18UP . https://t.co/OSX7JOWY5g
— Shailendra kumar (@Shailen89763824) March 21, 2022
Let's hope this kid will not lose his existing job because of the media frenzy.
After a week, nobody will remember him or care for him except a few. That's how the news cycle works. https://t.co/lNwN0qtKij— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) March 21, 2022
Within two days, Mehra has become a well-known figure across the country. But seems like he isn’t enjoying all this attention and simply wants to focus on his training and dreams without being blinded by the spotlights.
Talking about being overwhelmed with all the attention, Mehra said in Hindi, “Itna bhi woh nahi hona hai ki main zyada upar char gaya hoon (I don’t want it to seem that I am flying too high),” Mehra told Vinod Kapri in his car.
In the video shared by Kapri, Mehra added that he doesn’t want to be influenced by all the limelight.
“Agar mujhe zyada hi upar chhada denge toh jo mera goal hai na main uspe focus nahi kar payunga. Matlab mein zyada interview nahi dena chhata kisiko (If they give me too much fame, I won’t be able to focus on my goal. Hence, I don’t want to do too many interviews).”
He added, “Mehnat jo honi hai na meri, woh sunsaan mein honi chahiye, kamiyabi ki honi chahiye shor (My success should make noise, my hard work should be done quietly). Mehnat aaram se karna hai, chup chap, gumnaam (I want to work hard quietly, away from any fame).”
Saying to the media to not pester him for any more interviews, he added that because of them he is neither able to focus on his goals nor his work.
“मेहनत सुनसान होनी चाहिए, कामयाबी का शोर होना चाहिए”
ये कहते हुए #PradeepMehra ने मीडिया से अपील की है कि वो उसे उसके लक्ष्य में फ़ोकस रहने दे और परेशान ना करें🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/B6OptUQ8Je
— Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) March 21, 2022
‘Neerja’ producer Atul Kasbekar also supported Mehra and sent him a sports kit at Kapri’s home.
This morning @atulkasbekar took my address and with in few hours , a @PUMA sports kit with Running shoes, Apparels, backpack , socks was there at my door step for #PradeepMehra and with in no time we delivered it to him.
Love you Atul ❤️
love you Tweeple❤️❤️
Thanks #Puma pic.twitter.com/MZws0nBd8L— Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) March 21, 2022
Social media has been a catalyst in bringing Mehra’s story out to the world. But as he rightly said, it’s time for him to focus on his dreams and not get distracted by all the fame and attention.