Pranit Shilimkar - Why 37 Days? Because It’s Enough Time to Break Bad Habits (Founder Fitnesstalks, 30 under 30 BW, Celebrity Coach, 340K Followers)

"Passion, grit, and consistency can turn a dream into a legacy."

Q. From starting out as a personal trainer to becoming a fitness entrepreneur and OTT personality, your journey has been remarkable. What were some of the key challenges you faced during the early years, and how did you overcome them to build a successful fitness brand?

When I started out as a personal trainer in my early twenties, things weren’t easy at all. I was passionate, yes—but young, and in this field, people often judge you based on how long you’ve been around or how “big” your name is. Earning trust was the biggest challenge. So I focused completely on giving my 100% to every single client, helping them transform—not just physically, but mentally too.

In those early years, I was learning constantly—working during the day, studying at night. I didn’t come from a business background, so I made a lot of mistakes. But those mistakes taught me everything. Slowly, as results spoke for themselves, my client base grew and so did the idea that I could build something bigger. That’s how my fitness company was born. From there, it’s been about consistency, listening to people’s needs, and staying rooted in the same passion I started with.

Q. The #37DAYSCHALLENGE has become a well-known fitness movement. What inspired its creation, and how do you think it differs from other fitness challenges in terms of approach and impact?

The #37DAYSCHALLENGE was born out of everything I’d seen and experienced with clients over the years. I realised most people were looking for short-term fixes—quick weight loss, crash diets, “summer bodies.” But those results never lasted. I wanted to create something that actually helps people reset their mindset, build habits, and stick to them.

Why 37 days? Because it’s enough time to break bad habits and build new ones that can stay with you. The challenge is focused on strength training, clean nutrition, and most importantly—discipline. There’s no magic formula, no crazy hacks—just real, consistent effort with the right guidance.

And what makes it different is that it’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about building a lifestyle. The feedback I’ve received has been overwhelming. From common people to celebs joining the challenge, it’s created a real community, and that’s the most rewarding part for me.

Q. Social media has played a pivotal role in your growth. How did you develop your content strategy on Instagram, and what advice would you give to fitness professionals trying to build an authentic digital presence today?

I was always a kid full of humour. As I grew up and joined the fitness industry full time I realised how important it is spread awareness about fitness. But I could see a very typical and basic genre of fitness videos over the social media. I didn’t want to to that at all. 

So, I worked on an idea to educate people about fitness but with pure humour. I started making reels and was overwhelmed with the response. After a few months I developed a media team for the page having a DOP, editor and a content writer. Our main challenge has been to stick to the fitness element and still pour humour in it.

My only advice to budding fitness influencers and trainers would be to stay consistent, stay loyal to your audience and to lead from the front by setting examples.

Q. You’ve trained several celebrities, including Bhuvan Bam, and recently appeared on OTT platforms like JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. How did that opportunity come about, and what was the experience like transitioning from fitness coaching to appearing on-screen?

Firstly I am really grateful to BBKV productions for giving me my OTT debut. Seeing my name on a vanity van door was a dream come true. It all started many months back. I was training Bhuvan and his manager Rohit, who is also a BBKV producer, was aware of my content on Instagram. 

One day I got a call from Bhuvan’s team that they wanted to cast me on their hotstar specials. I could’ve been more happy. I always wanted to be on screen and after all every creator has it on his/her wish list for sure. My acting, physique and social media presence was noticed and I was offered the role. Looking forward to many more shoots. I am grateful, confident and blessed.

Q. Holistic health and sustainable strength training are at the core of your fitness philosophy. Can you elaborate on what this approach means to you and how it shapes your programs and client relationships?

Movement is life. The more we keep using our body the better and longer it will last for us. I believe that my company makes sure that we make our clients fall in step with their fitness journey by understanding the importance of strength training and good nutrition.

Q. You've been recognized with prestigious accolades like Businessworld’s 30 under 30 and the MidDay Iconic Fitness Creator award. How do these recognitions influence your mission and future plans for your fitness company?

Awards and recognitions for social media fitness creators surely do significantly influence both the mission and future plans of Fitness talks. Awards act as third-party endorsements, boosting the creator's credibility.

This helped me to not only be a bodybuilder but also a community builder. Awards motivate me to aim for a global impact rather than local or niche influence.

Bio

Through these 12 years of dedicated fitness coaching, Pranit Shilimkar turned his passion into a thriving business. Starting as a personal trainer in his early twenties, Pranit spent over a decade transforming lives, building a loyal client base, and mastering his craft. In 2020, he launched his own fitness company, focusing on sustainable strength training and holistic health with the launch of the famous #37DAYSCHALLENGE. 

Realizing the power of digital platforms, he began sharing valuable fitness tips and workouts on Instagram. His consistent, funny content resonated with a growing audience, generating organic leads and expanding his business.

While Pranit was training many celebrities and influencers/Actors from the industry, he got a chance to train Bhuvan Bam. Pranit’s authenticity and expertise recently caught the attention of BBKV production team, landing him his first-ever OTT appearance on JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar in Thugesh v/s The World featuring Mahesh Keshwala and Pranit Shilimkar as the finale episode guest.

The shoot, which focused on fitness challenges, marked a major milestone in his career. From a gym floor to an OTT platform, Pranit’s journey is a powerful example of how passion and persistence pays off.

Pranit Shilimkar has been recognised with many awards throughout his journey. Following are few mention worthy highlights -

30 under 30 - Businessworld

Registered under Startup India

Mid day Iconic Fitness Creator


Instagram - fitnesstalks_with_pranit




Interviewed by Ishika Ahuja