Even if you are remotely active on social media, there is no way you haven't come across the story of 19-year-old army aspirant, Pradeep Mehra.?
Pradeep has been the talk of social media after a video of him turning down a car ride and instead choosing to run went viral.??
In a video shared by National award-winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri, the young boy was seen running on the street with a backpack at midnight.?
The filmmaker had a full conversation with him. He asked Pradeep, a McDonald's employee, if he wanted a lift. But he refused. He said that he is running deliberately and does so every day after work because he doesn't get the time to train for the?Indian army.?
That video went viral in no time and made Pradeep a social media sensation overnight. Now, many news channels have been interviewing him and getting him on their shows.?
While most would have gotten swayed by such?newfound fame, Pradeep Mehra remains firmly grounded. He doesn't want his ongoing tryst with virality to come in the way of his goals.
Filmmaker Vinod Kapri caught up with him, once again, a day after the viral video, and shared the interaction on Twitter.?
In the video, he requests the media to give him his space. He can be heard saying in Hindi, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be affected by the people who have been praising me on social media lest they raise me to lofty heights just because I¡¯ve run a bit. Because then I won¡¯t be able to focus on my goals.¡±??
He said he doesn¡¯t want to appear for media interviews and added, ¡°Hard work should be silent, success will speak for itself.¡± While addressing the unexpected media attention, he said, ¡°I am unable to focus on my goal and my work. All day I¡¯m surrounded by the media.¡±??
Kapri¡¯s video got Pradeep not just fame but help as well. Prominent film producer Atul Kasbekar sent the boy training shoes, apparel and backpack to make his running experience better.??
His video also caught the attention of Retired Army Lieutenant General Satish Dua,?who posted on the microblogging website, "His Josh is commendable, and to help him pass the?recruitment?tests on his merit, I've interacted with Colonel of KUMAON Regiment, Lt Gen Rana Kalita, the Eastern Army Commander. He is doing the needful to train the boy for recruitment into his?Regiment. Jai Hind."
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