His name evokes all kinds of reactions from different people. Some see him as a celebrated powerlifter, others as an internet personality tangled in moral and legal messes. No matter how people view Rajat Dalal, his journey from a sports-loving kid to internet fame—or infamy, you pick—is pretty gripping.
He dropped out of college in the final year
Born on January 12, 1996, in Faridabad, Haryana, he grew up with his parents, mother Kamlesh and father Mohinder Singh Dalal. As a kid, he was hooked on sports, while his siblings, Mukesh and Neeru, buried their noses in books.1
At Tagore Academy Public School, Rajat started noticing that his strength and stamina outmatched his peers, which made him think that he could do well in the field of fitness and powerlifting.
Years passed, but this feeling wouldn’t leave his mind. So, he hit the gym while juggling engineering classes at Manav Rachna University, but dropped out in the fourth year. Not many people know that Rajat is also very good at shooting, a hobby which he picked during his time at the university.
From Fitness Modeling to Powerlifting
Rajat began his journey into athletics as a fitness model around 2016, but wasn’t comfortable with the dietary precautions to maintain an aesthetic body during competitions.2 He wanted to test his physical limits, and powerlifting was the perfect sport for that.
Powerlifting is all about three main lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Rajat quickly focused on mastering these lifts, which helped him rise through the ranks in the sport. Apart from a strong build that helps in powerlifting, his consistent efforts and mental strength made him stand out in the sport.
He set a World Record for 302.5 kg deadlift
Rajat Dalal has achieved a lot in powerlifting. During 2017- 21, he won several titles and medals at national and international levels.3 One of his biggest accomplishments was setting a world record in the deadlift. He lifted 302.5 kg (666.5 pounds) in the 90 kg weight class during the Men’s Junior 20-23 division in 2018.
Things were going pretty well for Rajat, but he faced a shoulder injury, which put a break on his powerlifting career. While pulling weights in a Gym, synovial fluid between his shoulder joint got displaced outside the joint capsule, which led to him leaving the sport professionally at that time.
His impact online isn’t just about powerlifting anymore. Over time, he’s also become a well-known fitness influencer, sharing his workout journey, useful training tips, and motivational posts with his followers on social media.
Gaining Notoriety from a String of Controversies
Despite his success, Rajat Dalal’s journey has also been marked by controversy. He was arrested in June 2024 after he was accused of assaulting, abducting, and humiliating an 18-year-old boy. The boy had taken a selfie with Rajat at his gym and posted it on social media with a caption that Rajat found offensive. In response, Rajat reportedly lured the boy to his gym, where he and his friends abducted and assaulted him.4
He also had a controversy with the Indian YouTuber Carryminati when he released a roast video that poked fun at Rajat Dalal’s views on Sigma males, leading to Dalal’s threat for the video to be edited or deleted. Carryminati apologized on Instagram and edited the video to remove Dalal’s segment, clarifying that his intentions were comedic and not meant to cause personal harm.
Apart from these, many minor controversies also affected his public image and have led to discussions about the responsibilities of being a public figure and influencer in the country.
He was a finalist in Bigg Boss Season 18
Rajat participated in Bigg Boss 18 as a contestant in 2024, where his competitive streak and smart strategies shone through in every task. He ended up as the second runner-up of the show.5
He also had multiple heated clashes with fellow contestants, especially with Shehzada Dhami, Avinash Mishra, and Vivian Dsena. Rajat was also seen forming a bond with fellow contestant Esha during the season. He went on to be the second runner-up of the show, shocking everyone who earlier thought of him only as someone with a sound body and maybe two brain cells.
Talking of brain cells, he blew minds with his knowledge of chemistry and mathematics during Bigg Boss. Clips of him nailing brutal calculations like it was nothing took the internet by storm in 2024.
As a Coach in the “Battleground”
In 2025, Rajat Dalal got picked as one of the four coaches for Amazon MX Player’s fitness show, Battleground. With all his time in fitness, he’s set to share the tough lessons he learned as a pro with the young contestants eager to prove themselves. As he continues his career, the balance between his achievements and his responsibilities will probably decide what mark he leaves on sports and fitness.
Note- His Biography will be updated here as new details emerge.
References
- Podcast featuring Rajat Dalal with Siddharth Kannan on YouTube ↩︎
- The Unseen Rajat Dalal: What You Didn’t Know on Dostcast YouTube Channel ↩︎
- Rajat’s profile on the Open Powerlifting Official Website ↩︎
- The Indian Express’s news article on Rajat’s arrest in Ahmedabad ↩︎
- Bigg Boss Season 18 Wikipedia Page ↩︎
